Macclesfield firm sold to Swedish tech group

A Macclesfield robotics company has been acquired by the Global Technologies arm of listed Swedish technology group Mycronic. 

RoBAT Limited, based on Hurdsfield Industrial Estate, was founded in 2001. Last year the highly specialist engineering-led manufacturer of robotic machines, for testing PCBs, recorded sales of £3 million.

Mycronic, which is listed on Sweden’s Nasdaq Stockholm exchange, is a developer and manufacturer of production equipment for the electronics industry. The group’s Global Technologies business has an existing line in providing electrical test equipment for bareboard PCBs. 

Following the acquisition, RoBAT will form part of Mycronic’s PCB Test business within the group’s Global Technologies division. Josh Kleinertz, who leads Mycronic’s PCB Test business line, said that RoBAT’s offering was “very exciting and particularly relevant for AI server applications.” 

Magnus Marthinsson, senior vice president of Global Technologies at Mycronic, commented: “Computational power and communication will continue to evolve rapidly. The resulting high-speed applications require PCBs with good high frequency signal quality.” 

RoBAT’s shareholders were advised on the sale by Laura McMorland, Charlotte Mills and Nathan Hughes from the Manchester office of law firm Bermans. Laura McMorland said: “It was our pleasure to advise the selling shareholders of RoBAT, a successful north west-headquartered business. We look forward to seeing its continued success in the future under Mycronic ownership.”