Fabmatics becomes part of SCIO Automation

The founding shareholders of the automation specialist Fabmatics GmbH, as well as the Stuttgart investment company Süd Beteiligungen GmbH (SüdBG), are selling their shares in Fabmatics Holding GmbH to SCIO Automation, a global automation platform headquartered in Frankenthal/Germany. The transaction was signed on October 30, 2023, and is subject to regulatory approvals.

Fabmatics GmbH was founded in 1991 by Dr. Steffen Pollack, Lothar Andritzke, and Manfred Jähnert. With its locations in Dresden and Utica (USA), the company has become a leading provider in the automation of material flows in high-tech environments, especially in the semiconductor industry. In preparation for succession planning and to support further growth, the founding shareholders sold 49.99% of their shares to Süd Beteiligungen GmbH in 2014. SüdBG specializes in assisting medium-sized companies in succession planning, growth financing, and changes in ownership. In the last five years in particular, Fabmatics has experienced significant growth, employing approximately 300 people and generating an annual revenue of around 45 million euros.

The new owner, SCIO Automation Group is an international automation platform with the mission to holistically support companies on their way to Industry 4.0. SCIO automates production and logistics processes from end-to-end and develops customer-specific product innovations. SCIO comprises more than ten medium-sized company brands with a total of over 1,100 employees at over 30 locations in eight countries worldwide, working to realize the Smart Factory for global players and hidden champions in a wide range of industries.

In the future, Fabmatics will strengthen the cleanroom segment within the SCIO Group. Along with Fabmatics GmbH, its subsidiary, Fabmatics USA Inc., based in Utica, New York, will also become part of SCIO. Fabmatics will continue to operate independently and collaborate closely with other companies within the SCIO Group.

Fabmatics Managing Directors Dr. Roland Giesen and Dr. Andreas Purath in front of the company headquarters in Dresden, Germany.

“With SCIO, we see the best possible conditions to continue Fabmatics’ successful journey in the coming years. SCIO, with its strategic focus and associated companies, not only brings a wealth of industry experience in automation technology and significant synergy potential, but also provides a stable and resilient financial foundation for Fabmatics’ further growth through its shareholder structure. We look forward to the collaboration. At the same time, we express our gratitude to our founders and shareholders, Dr. Steffen Pollack, Lothar Andritzke, and Manfred Jähnert, as well as the investment company SüdBG, for the many years of trustful and appreciative partnership,” said Fabmatics Managing Directors Dr. Andreas Purath and Dr. Roland Giesen regarding the transaction.

Dr. Steffen Pollack, founding shareholder of Fabmatics, adds:

“Together, we have developed Fabmatics into a leading player in the automation of the semiconductor industry. We are now passing the company into carefully chosen new hands. We are confident that Fabmatics, with SCIO by its side, will continue its exceptionally successful development.”

For SCIO CEO Michael Goepfarth, the transaction is an important step in further expanding SCIO’s global business and making its offerings, products, and services more accessible and efficient in the market.

“We are delighted that Fabmatics, with its international sales network, is now part of SCIO as another strong company, allowing us to further develop our cleanroom logistics segment into a key pillar in our portfolio.”

More information: Fabmatics becomes part of SCIO Automation