Nolato AB of Torekov, Sweden, completed its acquisition of Shieldmate Robotics Inc. of Itasca, Ill., March 29 and is more than tripling space at Nolato's Fort Worth, Texas, facility. Nolato's mobile communications business area supplies polymer components to makers of cellular telephones and gained additional customers — Motorola Inc., Kyocera Corp. and Denso Corp. — through the acquisition.
Nolato projects that Shieldmate will have 2000 sales of about $40 million.
The Matecki family sold Shieldmate for $25.5 million and other considerations under a Feb. 6 definite agreement. There is "a great synergy between the two companies," said Steve Matecki, who was Shieldmate president and chief executive officer.
Nolato named Torsten Nilson as president of the Illinois unit, now Nolato Shieldmate Inc. Nilson had been president of Nolato Texas Inc. since October 1998. He was replaced by Per Ahlund, former vice president of information systems and distribution for AB SKF's Elgin, Ill., seals division, effective April 10.
The Illinois and Texas sites cooperate on various issues but operate separately.
Shieldmate is a high-volume, precision injection molder with expertise in thin-wall electronic housings.
Shieldmate employs about 450, operates 46 injection molding machines of 40-500 tons and occupies a 100,000-square-foot facility. Each of the 39 Engel, four Husky and three Netstal presses has closed-loop process controls and integrated auxiliary equipment.
The Matecki family retained a sister company, Slipmate Inc., and will relocate the business elsewhere in the Chicago area. Slipmate employs 30 and specializes in applying industrial fluoropolymer coatings and using flame-spray processes to coat surfaces with metal.
In a new business venture, Matecki has applied for a patent on a commercial process for putting films and materials inside of an injection mold and intends to develop the concept.
Nolato Texas began molding operations in January 1999 in nearly 40,000 square feet and has leased 96,000 more square feet.
Nolato Texas expects within a few months to add infrastructure and equipment. A computer distributor had occupied the space.
Nolato Texas employs 140, operates 21 Engel and Arburg 70-100-ton presses and anticipates having 45 presses by year's end.
Nolato already supplies cell phone makers Telefon AB LM Ericsson, Nokia Oyj, Allgon AB and Salcomp Oy and has other business areas in automotive and medical applications.
Nolato employs about 2,500 and has annual sales of about 2.5 billion Swedish kronor ($275 million).