09 May 2017

ARTHOS advises ShapeDrive on its sale to wenglor sensoric

Accelerating market presence in structured light technology
At the beginning of May, wenglor sensoric GmbH bought all shares in ShapeDrive GmbH, an internationally leading manufacturer of components and systems in the field of 3D. By means of this acquisition, wenglor is expanding its innovative portfolio for 3D measuring technology to include a further highlight and offers its customer all over the world new solutions for automated manufacturing and quality assurance.

ARTHOS acted as exclusive financial adviser to the shareholder of ShapeDrive GmbH in this transaction. The core challenge was the structuring of a simple and reliable earn-out within a complex environment as the parties were targeting a full integration soon after closing.

ShapeDrive is an internationally leading manufacturer of components and systems in the field of 3D coordinate measuring technology for industrial, medical and scientific applications and a leading supplier in the field of 3D coordinate measuring technology. The takeover took place in the wake of advancing automation and digitalization in the age of Industry 4.0, in which three-dimensional image processing systems are expanding the opportunities provided by process automation and quality assurance many times over. And thus wenglor is underscoring its leading role as a globally established system supplier for industrial image processing and is augmenting its portfolio of camera-based sensors and 2D/3D imaging sensors. “We’re very pleased to once again extend our expertise in 3D measuring technology with ShapeDrive, and to thus broaden our options for the future”, says wenglor managing director Rafael Baur. “A mutual fascination for imaging technologies unites us and results in ideal prospects for combining the best of both worlds into something new and innovative. We see tremendous potential in this constellation!”

Technically, the new camera systems from the company in Munich are based on the projection of structured light patterns. The pixel sensors with various resolutions, working distances, measuring volumes and dot pitches create 3D point clouds by means of light, from which object sections can be quantitatively evaluated or reference model comparisons can be generated. The camera systems are above all distinguished by their high levels of precision, a comprehensive software package and numerous interfaces.

ShapeDrive products will be integrated into wenglor’s portfolio and further developed at the wenglorMEL facility in Eching near Munich. The ShapeDrive research and development department will also be incorporated into this business location. Dr. Matthias Rottenkolber, managing director of ShapeDrive GmbH, looks forward to the company’s mutual future with wenglor: “We can hardly wait to start working together with wenglor. The company has an outstanding, internationally aligned sales network and well developed production capacity. In the years to come, the trend towards Industry 4.0 will change the industrial landscape to a great extent – in particular due to increasing degrees of automation, big data and advancing levels of networking in production. Together, we will actively shape this transformation.”

About ShapeDrive
ShapeDrive is a leading manufacturer of components and systems in the field of 3D coordinate measuring technology with a focus on industrial, scientific and medical applications.
www.shapedrive.de

About wenglor sensoric
wenglor develops innovative automation technologies including sensors, as well as safety and camera systems with state-of-the-art communication standards for the worldwide market. Founded in 1983, the family company has since evolved into one of the most important international sensor suppliers with more than 700 employees around the world. The company with headquarters on Lake Constance in Tettnang, Germany, meets industrial automation challenges for customers in all industry sectors - from automobile manufacturing to the packaging industry.
www.wenglor.com

About ARTHOS
ARTHOS is an independent M&A advisory firm and specialist for digital media, IT and industrial technologies based in Munich. Since 2003, ARTHOS services customers on the buy- and sell-side regarding the acquisition or disposal of companies and business units worldwide. The partners of ARTHOS so far have successfully closed over 150 M&A transactions. ARTHOS is member of AICA – the global Alliance of International Corporate Advisers.