Wright Industries joins UK-based Robotic Technology Systems

Wright Industries Inc. (Nashville, TN) has been acquired by Robotic Technology Systems plc (RTS: Manchester, England) and has been renamed RTS Wright. The acquisition was completed May 19th and has brought excellent results for both the acquirer and the acquired companies. Wright, which is a leading North American supplier of automation systems and a major integrator of manufacturing systems utilizing robotics, machine vision equipment, and complex software-based control systems, received a fresh infusion of capital.

The infusion of capital is expected to position the company for growth, according to chairman and president, Bailey P. Robinson III. The current management and workforce of 700 employees remain in place and expectations for future growth in employment are not unrealistically optimistic.

Wright had already enjoyed a turnaround in fortunes on the rebounding U.S. economy and a series of orders that have totaled more than $100 million USD already this year, according to Phil Johnson, RTS group managing director. Johnson identifies Wright as the third largest integrator of high technology automation systems and a major supplier of robotics and machine vision. Its multinational client list comes from such industries and sectors as computers, electronics, mobile telephones, and pharmaceuticals and its order books currently stand at an all-time record of $90 million USD.

Wright and RTS have historically worked closely together as business partners. The new combination of technical and financial resources is expected to position the company to service a wide range of blue chip customers on a global basis. The RTS Group feels that it is better positioned to penetrate North American market even further.

There are already a number of joint projects underway, including discussions with a tier-one supplier to Motorola for mobile phone assembly automation, Johnson reports. "A major initiative is underway in technology transfer and business planning to ensure that we fully exploit our synergies and plans are in place to move our RTS Flexmill™ business to the U,S., which is its largest market." The Flexmill combines robotics with programming for machining a wide variety of materials.

Wright Industries Inc., 707 Spence Lane, Nashville, TN 37217-0914 USA; phone: 615-361-6600

Edited by Jim Lorincz
Managing Editor, Machine Tools Online