Middleby acquires automation company in Italy

ELGIN - The Middleby Corp. Wednesday said it has acquired Proxaut, a maker of automation equipment for the food industry and industrial processing companies. Proxaut is based in Italy, near Bologna, with approximately $15 million (U.S.) in annual sales, Middleby said.

Financial terms of the acquisition were not released.

Proxaut is a manufacturer of Auto Guided Vehicles, or AGVs, a technology that primarily moves materials and products safely while operating alongside workers. The company's automation equipment decreases repetitive movements from traditional labor and ergonomically improves workflows.

"Our recent strategic investments in automation are coming to fruition, as we see order demands for this technology," said Tim FitzGerald, Middleby CEO.

Middleby is a global leader in the food service industry, owning a number of companies and brands that develop and manufacture a broad line of solutions used in commercial food service, food processing and the residential kitchen.

"Proxaut highly complements our existing automation investments, including Vemac, which was acquired in 2018. Vemac has grown quickly since joining Middleby and Proxaut further extends the Middleby portfolio of automated solutions," FitzGerald said.