Medtech Supplier MMT Buys Irish Automation Firms

Contract manufacturer Medical Manufacturing Technologies (MMT) announced within a few days of each other the acquisition of two suppliers of automation technology in Ireland, Somex Automation and Ward Automation Galway. Both companies will go to market under the recently launched MMT Automation brand.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Somex Automation provides custom automation systems and processes for the medical technology industry from facilities in Cork and Ballyvourney, Ireland.

Based in Ireland’s medtech hub in Galway, Ward Automation develops high-performance custom automation that encompasses the entire product lifecycle, from design and development to production, testing, and packaging, according to the news release.

MMT is a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management that has made a series of strategic acquisitions to build a vertically integrated offering of precision technology and process strategy for medical manufacturing OEMs, especially in the minimally invasive devices space. Brands under the MMM umbrella include Glebar, Syneo, Cathtip, Engineering by Design, and Interface Technologies. The addition of the two Irish automation companies to MMT’s automation division will allow seamless integration of end-to-end medical device manufacturing, said MMT CEO Robbie Atkinson.

The acquisition of Somex Automation and integration of its 34-person-strong staff will support MMT customers in their “quest to increase production and expand ‘lights-out’ operation capabilities,” said Atkinson. Regarding Ward Galway, Atkinson noted that its expertise strategically positions MMT to “compete in the high-growth market of advanced robotization and integration for the minimally invasive medical device manufacturing industry.” MMT said the 27 new employees will continue to operate out of the Galway facility.

In addition to automation systems, MMT provides micro and electrochemical grinding; catheter tipping, punching, drilling, bonding, and lamination; coil winding; tube cutting and drilling; balloon forming, pleating, and folding; and stent crimping.