Brooks Automation forms Japanese venture
Brooks Automation, a parts supplier for chip makers, said today it is forming a joint venture with Yaskawa Electric Corp. in Japan and buying a U.S. unit of Yaskawa.
The venture, to be called Yaskawa Brooks Automation, Inc., will be equally owned by both companies and will serve as an exclusive channel for sales, marketing and support in Japan for the semiconductor robotics products of Yaskawa and the automation hardware products of Brooks.
Brooks will also purchase Synetics Solutions Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Yaskawa that provides customized parts for chip makers in North America.
The companies plan to close the deals in June and launch the joint venture in September. The venture is expected to have initial revenue of more than $100 million in its first full year of operation. (AP)
