article source published in 2016

Major public announcements:

• Midea Group, for around $4.5 billion, last year acquired the world’s 4th largest robot manufacturer, Germany-based Kuka AG.
• The Kion Group, a predominately Chinese-funded warehousing systems and equipment conglomerate, acquired Dematic, a large European AGV and material handling systems company. Kion also acquired Egemin Automation, Retrotech and Linde Material Handling.
• KraussMaffei, a big German industrial robots integrator, was acquired by ChemChina.
• Paslin, a US-based industrial robot integrator, was acquired by Zhejiang Wanfeng Technology, a Chinese industrial robot integrator.
• Baidu acquired Silicon Valley vision systems startup Xperception for an undisclosed amount.
• Servotronix, an Israeli motion control and automation systems company, was acquired by Midea Group for $170 million. Servotronix, founded in 1987, develops and manufactures comprehensive and high performance motion control solutions.
• Shenyang Blue Silver Group (SBS Group), China, acquired 85% of the Ecoclean Group within the Dürr Group for around $134 million.
• RoboRobo, a Korean educational robotics kit and course provider startup, was acquired by Shengtong Printing for $62 million in cash and stock.
• Hocoma, a Swiss provider of robotic and sensor-based rehabilitation solutions, merged with Chinese DIH International to provide comprehensive rehab solutions.