Aerotech, manufacturer of high-performance motion and positioning control systems and automation solutions, is responding to growing global demand by continuing to expand its Pittsburgh headquarters. Following the recent extension of the production area and the purchase of additional systems and machinery, the cleanroom area has now also been doubled. The German and UK subsidiaries will also benefit. Subsidiary Kiski Précision Industries (KPI), a supplier of mechanical components, has just announced the acquisition of neighboring Alpha Carb Enterprises (ACE), more than doubling its operating area to 79,500 m².
With a wide range of products specializing in nanometric positioning, Aerotech has established a solid position in the field of high-precision motion control over the past 50 years. Aerotech Ltd, in the UK, and Aerotech GmbH in Germany, were the first European subsidiaries to pilot the international expansion of this medium-sized American company. In the meantime, the company has grown to around 500 employees worldwide. The spectrum of industrial applications covered ranges from medical technology and life science applications to photonics, semiconductor manufacturing, automotive and data storage, as well as laser processing, aerospace and measurement and test technology.
" Many of our customers come from highly specialized industries with exacting process requirements. To keep the amount of airborne particles and germs as low as possible, sensitive products such as catheters or lenses are manufactured exclusively in clean rooms. " explains Simon Smith, Aerotech's European Director. " In the interests of our customers, we also ensure constant conditions and avoid contamination during the production of our positioning systems. "He adds that it is imperative to keep this promise of quality, even if demand increases. " We take our obligations as a manufacturer very seriously - in order to be able to produce larger quantities under the best possible conditions, we are currently expanding our cleanroom capacities at our Pittsburgh headquarters."
Significant investment in new space and equipment
On completion, the cleanroom will have a surface area of 600 m², roughly double its initial size. It will be extended to ISO class 6, with specific zones for ISO class 5 cells. Additional investments will be made in cleanroom clothing, work equipment, tools and complete product ranges.
The cleanroom expansion is seen as the continuation of a multi-year investment in facilities and operational capacity that began in 2018. Aerotech has added an additional 12,000 m2 of manufacturing, office, engineering and laboratory space to its Pittsburgh facility.
The new cleanroom capabilities will then also benefit Peak Metrology. Aerotech's youngest subsidiary, also located in Pittsburgh, is currently experiencing rapid growth. Its experts, led by RJ Hardt, focus exclusively on industrial customers in the field of surface metrology.
Peak Metrology offers a wide range of products for this purpose - right through to turnkey machines. Already as a business unit of Aerotech, a broad customer base has been built up around standard and customized precision solutions for surface metrology.
Kiski Précision Industries acquires Alpha Carb Enterprises Aerotech is also pleased with the rapid growth of its subsidiary Kiski Précision Industries (KPI), which provides subcontract metalworking services such as CNC machining, precision grinding and wire EDM, as well as assembly services for Aerotech. In early December 2022, Kiski announced the acquisition of Alpha Carb Enterprises (ACE), a neighboring company specializing in wire EDM for the tool and die industry, among others. According to KPI, the addition of 7,390 m2 doubles the available operating space - an essential factor, as current production facilities are at full capacity. ACE also offers complementary business lines and a wide range of expertise and experience to serve a variety of different markets. Combined, the two companies will join forces on a common platform to provide customers with an expanded industrial offering in the future.
" We have little customer overlap and only two redundant machining processes - metal cutting and electrical discharge machining (EDM). However, KPI is still new to EDM and has traditionally focused on CNC machining and processing of metals, whereas at ACE, the focus is more on EDM. With this added EDM expertise, we can offer our customers a much greater capacity around wire EDM in tooling and prototyping for all the services we offer" explains Dave Holm, President of Kiski Précision Industries, adding: " Flexibility is the key to our success - from prototyping to mass production, from complete machining to finishing, from plastics to special alloys. "
Aerotech also hopes to benefit from the acquisition of ACE, as KPI now has additional capacities and know-how in the various business areas. ACE employees have been offered jobs at KPI KPI employees have been offered jobs at ACE, and executive managers will also be hired.
" Over the last few years, KPI has developed very specific know-how for key industries, and has also implemented special procedures and certifications. We can only benefit from this knowledge - and it's a great advantage that KPI is only about a 45-minute drive from Pittsburgh, as professional exchange can take place without compromise." says Simon Smith, who is delighted with all this.
Pittsburgh's management is also satisfied with current developments. " We can look positively to the future" says Dr Robert Novotnak, President of Aerotech. " Given current demand, these investments will enable us to continue providing our customers with the products and services they expect from Aerotech. "Mark Botos, CEO of Aerotech, points out: " Fully meeting our customers' needs has been at the heart of our corporate philosophy for 50 years. We look forward to continuing to put our ideas of quality and precision into practice, and to succeeding together with our customers."