US-based private equity firm Arlington Capital has acquired iRobot Corporation’s (IRBT) defense and security business.
The IRBT Defense & Security business unit will operate as a newly established independent company based in Bedford, MA.
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Arlington Capital vice-president Chris Stallmann said: "Arlington Capital is pleased to be partnering with the highly talented iRobot defense and security team on this divestiture to create a new and focused robotics platform.
"From weight classes under 5lb to over 300lb, we look forward to building upon one of the industry’s broadest and deepest robotics product line offerings."
The unnamed entity will be headed by Sean Bielat, who will take over as the CEO along with new president Tom Frost. Tom previously worked as the senior vice-president and general manager of IRBT Defense & Security.
Bielat said: "As an independent company, we will be focused on our own goals and objectives and pursue the numerous opportunities that lie ahead of us."
Touted to be the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) largest independent supplier of ground-based robots, the defence and security unit provides soldiers and first-responders with robots capable of carrying out missions in unfavourable environments.
The company currently manufactures four classes of robots, namely the FirstLook, SUGV, PackBot and Kobra.
