40th Anniversary Spotlight – Transparency
Hamilton Robinson’s portfolio company Signal Control Products (“SCP”) announces its acquisition of Southern Lighting and Traffic Systems. Headquartered in Cumming, GA, Southern Lighting & Traffic Systems (“SLTS”) is a leader in the lighting and traffic systems providing high quality traffic control equipment and pole structures, advanced traffic system technology, superior customer service and a steadfast commitment to safety. The combined company will create one of the largest distributors of traffic management solutions on the East Coast.
Chris Lund, Partner at Hamilton Robinson stated, “The acquisition of SLTS expands our geographic reach to the Southeast and strengthens our relationships with key OEM partners and ultimately our customers. We look forward to supporting the team as they continue their growth in the region.”
“We could not be more pleased to welcome SLTS to the SCP family. Their culture is very similar to ours, placing our customers’ success at the forefront of everything we do,” added John Bolt, CEO of SCP.
Tom Dekle, President of SLTS said, “While we will continue to operate independently under the SLTS brand, the combination with SCP will provide us with greater resources to better serve our customers and empower our employees.”
Jim Parmelee, Managing Director at Hamilton Robison continued, “The combination underscores SCP’s commitment to delivering a portfolio of leading-edge traffic management solutions to its customers.”
ABOUT SIGNAL CONTROL
Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Branchburg, NJ, Signal Control is a leading value added distributor and solutions provider of signal equipment used to manage America’s busiest roads and highways today, while building safer, faster and more efficient signal control systems for tomorrow’s integrated traffic mobility.
Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners’ portfolio company, American Roller Company, closed on its latest acquisition of A-Korn Roller, Inc. A-Korn, founded in 1970 and located in Chicago, IL, gives American Roller increased capabilities in the graphic arts and converting sectors. They also add unique OEM-approved compounds and strong customer relationships to expand American Roller’s position as an industry leader in industrial rollers.
Adam Fitzner, Managing Director at Hamilton Robinson stated, “This is American Roller’s sixth acquisition since our initial investment. The team has done a great job leveraging its internal business systems to integrate acquisitions including the most advanced engineering in the industry, largest best-in-class sales team, in-house compounding, purchasing and lean operating processes.”
“We are very proud of American Roller’s success accelerating growth and increasing profits by 50%-100%+ in the first 18 months post-acquisition while retaining and creating new opportunities for the add-on’s existing team,” stated Christian Lund, Partner at Hamilton Robinson.
Dan Cahalane, CEO of American Roller continued, “We are fortunate within our industry that quality people and quality companies reach out to us to explore how collectively we can better service our customers. Partnering with the A-Korn Roller team further deepens our value to customers.”
“The A-Korn team is a great cultural fit and will allow us to improve our positioning in several important growth markets,” continued Bryan Burroughs, Vice President at Hamilton Robinson.
ABOUT AMERICAN ROLLER
American Roller Company is an industry leading provider of engineered services and industrial rollers including rubber and urethane coverings, plasma coverings and core fabrication. Founded in 1938 and based in Union Grove, WI, American Roller has multiple facilities throughout the United States and a facility in Canada and China.
Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners (“HRCP”), a lower middle market private equity firm, announces that it has sold its investment in GrayMatter to Tailwind Capital. GrayMatter is a leading provider of automation and intelligence solutions serving some of the largest industrial companies in the world.
“We are proud of the accomplishments achieved and the impressive transformation of GrayMatter’s business. The company more than tripled in size during our partnership,” stated Brandon Richter, Partner, HRCP. “We accomplished this by completing five strategic acquisitions, expanding into new end markets including life sciences, investing in its US engineering team and fast-growing India operations, and enhancing its portfolio of solutions to provide compelling value to customers.”
“We are excited for the entire management team and the 84 employee shareholders who participated alongside us, as they embark on a new chapter. GrayMatter is poised to deliver a comprehensive suite of solutions on the strength of the foundational investments we made during our partnership. We invested in emerging technologies including data analytics and implemented new systems and processes to position GrayMatter for future growth,” continued James Parmelee, Managing Director, HRCP.
Jim Gillespie, CEO, GrayMatter noted, “Hamilton Robinson’s support was key to achieving our strategic objectives over the last six years. We are well positioned to create a new brand of industrial intelligence solutions for our long-standing and loyal customers.”
Finn Dixon & Herling, Crowe LLP and William Blair & Company LLC advised Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners and GrayMatter.
ABOUT GRAYMATTER
GrayMatter is a technology and solutions service company, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, committed to transforming operations and empowering people in critical infrastructure environments. GrayMatter focuses on co-innovation and curating the best process and technology to drive industrial companies and utilities through digital transformations.
Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners’ portfolio company, American Roller Company closed on its third add-on in twelve months with its acquisition of PETCO Inc. (“PETCO”). PETCO, founded in 1961 and located in Lake Forest, IL, gives American Roller expanded capabilities in urethane casting as well as further penetration into the Midwest regions expanding American Roller’s position as an industry leader in industrial rollers.
Adam Fitzner, Managing Director at Hamilton Robinson stated, “PETCO is this management team’s seventh acquisition which highlights how American Roller is the acquirer of choice in their large and fragmented market. The company’s standardized processes, in-house compounding, back office and systems have allowed the team to leverage the company’s infrastructure and dramatically improve earnings.”
“The acquisition of PETCO adds another marquee name to American Roller’s family of premier brands. Through organic R&D and acquisition, the company is now a clear industry leader with the broadest set of technical capabilities—a true one-stop shop for industrial roller servicing, replacement, coatings, and coverings for web processing equipment,” stated Christian Lund, Partner at Hamilton Robinson.
“We are grateful that the Smith family and PETCO employees have placed their trust in American Roller,” said Dan Cahalane, President and CEO of American Roller. “I must also mention what an incredible team and business process we have in the American Roller Way. It is impressive how our team has been able to complete three acquisitions in twelve months and make such rapid progress on their integration.”
ABOUT AMERICAN ROLLER
American Roller Company is an industry leading provider of engineered services and industrial rollers including rubber and urethane coverings, plasma coverings, and core fabrication. Founded in 1938 and based in Union Grove, WI, American Roller has multiple facilities throughout the United States and a facility in Canada and China. For more information visit www.americanroller.com.
Manufacturers have faced many challenges while implementing new technologies and redesigning processes. Our speakers will address those challenges incurred, but also the opportunities and benefits achieved through innovation and utilizing smart factories and processes.
Innovation in Manufacturing
November 7, 2023
4:00pm – 7:00pm
Ogilvie Transportation Center
500 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL
Featured speakers:
Jim Gillespie, Founder & CEO, GrayMatter
Jim Parmelee, Managing Director, Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners
Dan Cahalane, CEO, American Roller
Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners (“HRCP”) is pleased to announce that it has expanded its investment team with the addition of Matthew Lison. Joining the team as an Associate, Matt will help to foster new investment opportunities and facilitate portfolio development.
Matt brings a specialization in packaging with prior investment banking experience at Raymond James & Associates. He has also held positions at Meketa Investment Group where he conducted investment due diligence and assisted in their manager selection process, and Hedgeye Risk Management where he was an equity research analyst. Matt attended Bowdoin College, earning his B.A. in Economics and was the Co-Founder of the Golf Club.
“We are delighted to welcome Matt to the HRCP team. His experience is a valuable resource that allows him to make an immediate impact. Matt will play a vital role in accelerating our investment efforts and expanding our network,” stated Brandon Richter, Partner at Hamilton Robinson.
Chris Lund, Partner at Hamilton Robinson added, “Expanding our junior resources with Matt will add bandwidth across the firm to focus on new investment opportunities and value creation at our portfolio companies. Matt’s experience and background are the perfect fit for HRCP and we could not be more thrilled to have him on our team.”
Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners (“HRCP”), a lower middle-market private equity firm, announces that it has sold its investment in Tanknology to D&H United (“D&H”), a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners. Tanknology is the global leader in environmental compliance testing, inspection and fuel quality solutions. With over 100,000 site visits per year, Tanknology’s proprietary and patented testing and inspection technology solutions have long been relied on by infrastructure operators, insurance providers and regulators to set industry standards to protect and prevent groundwater contamination. The combination adds to D&H’s offerings around critical maintenance, testing and inspection services for fueling stations and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
“We are proud of the accomplishments achieved during our partnership with the Tanknology team,” stated Brandon Richter, Partner of HRCP. “We achieved market leading organic growth driven by new customer wins and expansion of services, as well as acquisitive growth. Our three acquisitions added customer and technician density as well as strengthening our service offerings, particularly in cathodic protection.”
James Parmelee, Managing Director of HRCP, continued, “We made significant foundational investments to position Tanknology as the environmental compliance platform of choice. It was a pleasure to work with Allen Porter, Pete DeWeese and the entire management team over the past several years, as well as a number of managers and key employees who participated alongside us as shareholders.”
“I am extremely proud of Tanknology’s employees, our customer-centric culture and 35-year history as the preeminent compliance services provider and innovator of unique testing solutions,” noted Allen Porter, Tanknology, CEO. “Hamilton Robinson supported us in every way, helping to solidify our strategic initiatives and supporting our growth at every step.”
Finn Dixon & Herling and Crowe LLP advised Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners and Tanknology.
ABOUT TANKNOLOGY
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Austin, TX, Tanknology is the world’s largest provider of environmental compliance testing and inspection services at more than 85,000 petroleum fueling and storage facilities per year. Tanknology offers more than 30 compliance-related service offerings and holds 22 patents for leak detection and tank monitoring technology. For more information visit www.tanknology.com.