To serve growing demand from manufacturers for automation in sheet metalworking, Swiss laser cutting machine and press brake manufacturer Bystronic is acquiring a 70 per cent share of Antil S.p.A., Milan, an Italian manufacturer of automated sheet metal handling plant. The majority shareholding will enable Bystronic to expand its existing range of automation technologies to include machine loading and unloading, robot-assisted bending, material storage and allied services.
Antil was established in 1989 and currently employs 110 staff, who will be retained under the new agreement. The brand will also be retained and management will remain with previous co-owner, Agostino Zanella. In 2017, Antil achieved a turnover of around 18 million euro.
Bystronic CEO Alex Waser said, “Antil and Bystronic complement each other ideally, not only technologically but also culturally. Innovation and a clear focus on user requirements are important core components of both companies. Together, we will support customers with an outstanding sales and service organisation covering all aspects of sheet metalworking automation.”
Since 1994, Bystronic has been a part of Swiss industrial holding company Conzzeta. In 2017, with more than 2,400 employees, Bystronic’s turnover was 774 million euro.
