Negri Bossi sale may bring “significant manufacturing” of I/M machines to U.S.

Italy-based plastics equipment manufacturer Negri Bossi may “bring significant manufacturing of injection molding machines back to the United States” as a result of its acquisition by a joint venture formed by American private equity firm Ausable Capital Partners LLC and machinery maker Kingsbury Corp.

Sacmi Group, which owns Negri Bossi, announced earlier this week that it had sold Negri Bossi and the rest of its plastics division – which includes Bi-Power, which specialises in the manufacture of large presses and is a long-standing supplier to some of Europe’s major automobile manufacturers, including Fiat-Chrysler; and Roboline-Sytrama, an Italy-based manufacturer of robotic systems for the plastics industry – to Santa Monica, Calif.-based Ausable Capital and Rochester, N.Y.-based Kingsbury Corp.

In a later news release, Negri Bossi expanded on this news, saying that Kingsbury and sister company Optimation Technology Inc. can provide engineering development experience that will lay the foundation for U.S. machinery production.

“With the help of Kingsbury, it is expected that Negri Bossi will be able to bring significant manufacturing of injection molding machines back to the United States, and also will be able to provide the installation, automation, and support services necessary to competently address key verticals such as automotive, packaging, electronics, pharmaceuticals and appliances,” Negri Bossi said in its new news release “Also, the extensive North American footprint of Kingsbury and its services partner, Optimation Technologies Inc., should enhance the ability to provide complete solutions to customers and to build and grow extensive customer relationships in North America.”

Kingsbury is described as a leader in the design and manufacture of special purpose assembly and test systems; custom rotary dial, inline transfer, and SPM machines; flexible machining centres; and web based (roll to roll) machines.