Recent Mergers & Acquisitions

With multi-axis lathes becoming more complex and sophisticated and requiring specialized software, UK-based Delcam has acquired U.S.- based International Manufacturing Computer Services Inc. (IMCS). Delcam is a leading specialty supplier of machining software and associated services. IMCS is the developer of the PartMaker Turn-Mill suite of CAM software. It will change its name to PartMaker, Inc. Included in the range of PartMaker offerings are applications for programming multi-axis lathes, PartMaker SwissCAM (for Swiss type lathes), and PartMaker Turn-Mill (for Turn-Mill centers with live tooling). The Part- Maker suite of CAM solutions also includes unique products for CNC milling, 2-Axis turning and wire EDM applications. IMCS PartMaker will continue as a product line separate from other Delcam offerings. By combining the resources of Kitagawa Iron Works in Japan and NorthTech Workholding (the exclusive U.S. representative of Kitagawa products in North and South America), a new company has been created, Kitagawa-NorthTech Inc. As the two exchange and share technical expertise, Kitagawa-NorthTech Inc. will be able to present customers more ad-vanced application solutions and an enhancement of offerings to high-volume manufacturers. Kitagawa-NorthTech Inc. has comprehensive workholding products including standard 3-jaw chucks, pull back, quick-change wheel chucks, finger chucks, self contained air chucks, ultra high precision, specialty chucks, a full line of high-quality cylinders, and more. Privately held M2M Holdings Inc. has acquired Onyx Software Corp., a worldwide provider of customer management and process software for mid and large-sized enterprises. Battery Venture VI and Thoma Cressey Equity Partners jointly own M2M Holdings. Their major asset is Made2Manage Systems, an enterprise software and services company. The cash transaction is estimated at $92 million and is expected to be completed during the third quarter of this year. Managing partner of Thoma Cressey Equity Partners, Orlando Bravo, says, "We see an outstanding opportunity in the relationship between Onyx and Made2Manage Systems as consolidators of the CRM and ERP software markets." Providence, RI-based Mahr Federal Inc. has strengthened its existing product offerings in horizontal length measurement with the acquisition of Helios Messtechnik GmbH & Co. KG. Added to the Mahr offerings are SIP and Helios measurement brands, and Helio-Pan and Helio-Scope brands in the field of optical and tactile shaft measurement. Mahr Helios product offerings are seen as extremely complimentary to other company entities whose lines include precision gages and precision length metrology and form and position tolerance testing. Valenite LLC has sold it Gaging System division to John Malane who has been the division's operations manager. According to Malane, the new company is named VGAGE and is ISO 9001/2000 and ISO 17025 accredited. Offerings include standard and custom hand, fixture, column and bench gaging units, software development, controls and CNC interfaces, and tool compensation systems as well as tool setting hardware. Valenite will continue as a representative agent for VGAGE products. However, the sale permits Valenite to focus on its core product lines which include advanced cutting tool inserts, holders, tooling systems and machining coolants.