Sepro buys out Conair in North American robot jv

French robot makerSepro Robotique has acquired Conair Group‘s 50 per cent stake in Sepro America.

Formed in August 2007, the joint venture was intended to market robots in the U.S. and Canada.

Sepro Robotique and auxiliary equipment maker Conair each owned 50 per cent of the joint venture. Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Conair is now exercising its right to sell its equity interest to the French company.

The joint venture came after a longtime business relationship between Sepro and Conair, which had been the North American distributor for Sepro robots since 1989.

Sepro America employs approximately 22 people, based at Conair’s old facility in Emsworth, Pa.

Sepro makes beam robots and sprue-picker robots. Sepro America also offers six-axis articulating robots through a partnership with Fanuc Robotics in the U.S.

A news release announcing the move said the long co-operative relationship between Conair and Sepro “will continue based on our common customers and shared distribution channels.”

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