Ares Management Private Equity Fund and Owens Design Team Acquire Owens Design Inc.

Automated Industrial Robotics Inc. and Ares Management Private Equity fund acquired Owens Design, Inc. on August 18, 2025, with funding from an additional Ares Management Private Equity fund investment and an equity investment from Owens Design's leadership team. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in the growth of Automated Industrial Robotics Inc. and highlights the strategic importance of Owens Design, Inc. in the robotics industry.

Automated Industrial Robotics Inc. (AIR) and Ares Management Private Equity fund have acquired Owens Design, Inc., a leading developer of custom automation solutions for high-tech industries, on August 18, 2025. The acquisition further strengthens AIR's presence in the United States and enhances its capabilities in the high-growth semiconductor industry [1].

Owens Design, founded in 1983, has a proven track record of delivering customized and integrated automation solutions to customers in high-tech industries. The company's expertise spans semiconductor manufacturing, renewable energy, data storage, medical products, and other emerging technologies. With approximately 100 experienced team members and a 60,000-square-foot facility in Silicon Valley, Owens Design has established a reputation for engineering excellence and has created over 3,000 bespoke tools [1].

The acquisition was funded through an additional investment from an Ares Management Private Equity fund, along with an equity investment from Owens Design's leadership team. This strategic partnership will enable Owens Design to leverage AIR's scale, geographic diversity, and automation experience, fostering significant growth opportunities for the company [2].

AIR, an industrial automation company focused on acquiring and facilitating the growth of leading industrial automation companies, now has over 530 employees and an automation hub footprint of over 400,000 square feet globally. The addition of Owens Design marks another transformative step for AIR, aligning engineering capabilities across its growing footprint and delivering cutting-edge, scaled manufacturing solutions to its global customer base [1].

AIR Executive Chairman Brian Klos and Chief Executive Officer Darragh de Stonndún expressed their excitement about the partnership, stating, "We are honored to partner with Bob and the entire Owens Design team on this exciting next chapter, which we believe brings a world-class business with truly differentiated automation capabilities and an impressive breadth of industry experience to the AIR platform" [1].

Bob Fung, Chief Executive Officer of Owens Design, said, "I am proud of what Owens Design has been able to achieve in over 40 years as an independent company. In AIR, we have found a partner who shares our values of serving customers while creating a rewarding environment for our team members to challenge themselves and grow. AIR brings scale, geographic diversity and exceptional automation experience that will enable Owens Design to realize the significant growth opportunity in front of us" [1].

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This acquisition highlights the strategic importance of Owens Design in the robotics industry and underscores AIR's commitment to growth and innovation.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/automated-industrial-robotics-inc-acquires-130000207.html
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/automated-industrial-robotics-inc-ares-management-private-equity-fund-managed-by-ares-management-c-ce7c51dcdb8bf421