Better By Design
Better By Design, LLC was a privately held U.S. custom automation builder that designed, fabricated, and integrated bespoke manufacturing machinery for industrial clients. Its operations have since been acquired by McIver Engineering & Controls and transitioned to that acquirer.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersDelavan, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Better By Design does
Better By Design, LLC was a privately held U.S. custom automation builder headquartered in Delavan, Wisconsin. Founded in 1997 per firmographic data (the structured company history alternatively records a 2016 establishment event, reflecting a likely data conflict on the incorporation date), the firm specialized in designing, fabricating, and integrating bespoke automation equipment for manufacturing customers across verticals ranging from automotive to precision assembly and testing. Its offering was structured as a single product organized around three phases: DESIGN, using SolidWorks 3D modeling to engineer every machine around the customer's specific parts, needs, and production capability; BUILD, sourcing quality components and manufacturing custom parts to improve productivity, ensure worker safety, and fit the customer's business; and INTEGRATE, combining purchased components with custom-fabricated parts, including vibratory bowl feeders, multi-axis motion systems pairing pneumatics with electric drives, fully integrated vision inspection, custom electrical panels, and functional machine safety systems.
Commercially, the company operated on a custom quote-based pricing model, engaging customers through direct sales and a website portfolio showcasing project examples such as blade assembly, corrugated aluminum handling, sewing machine integration, and vision inspection systems. It served the U.S. domestic market only, with no disclosed international footprint, no app, no public API or SDK, and no patents, awards, or regulatory actions recorded. Revenue, headcount detail, investor backing, and management team data are not disclosed in the available information.
As of the most recent source data, Better By Design's assets have been acquired by McIver Engineering & Controls and its in-house automation division, DLS Custom Automation, and all customer service, quoting, and operational functions have transitioned to the acquirer (contact: 262-783-9912). The company's website now displays an acquisition announcement and routes visitors to the McIver Engineering & Controls site, indicating that Better By Design no longer operates as an independent commercial entity.
Better By Design firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Better By Design
- Legal name
- Better By Design, LLC
- Website
- https://betterbydesign.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Better By Design, LLC was a privately held U.S. custom automation builder that designed, fabricated, and integrated bespoke manufacturing machinery for industrial clients. Its operations have since been acquired by McIver Engineering & Controls and transitioned to that acquirer.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Better By Design industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Automation Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Machinery Manufacturing (333), All Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (33399)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Factory Automation Cells & Integrated Systems (Assembly, Welding, Painting Lines) (IMAHAHAL)
Keywords
Where Better By Design is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Delavan
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Better By Design business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels1 record
Better By Design product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Better By Design designs, builds, and integrates custom automation machines engineered around each customer's unique parts and specific production needs. The service spans three phases — DESIGN (SolidWorks 3D modeling to create machines around customer parts), BUILD (fabricating custom parts and assembling equipment to improve productivity and worker safety), and INTEGRATE (combining pneumatics, electric drives, vision inspection, and specialized functionality into robust systems).
Product overview
Better By Design operates as a single-product custom automation services company, offering a unified 'Custom Automation' solution that encompasses three core service phases: DESIGN (using SolidWorks 3D modeling to create machines around customer parts), BUILD (fabricating custom parts and manufacturing machines for improved productivity and worker safety), and INTEGRATE (combining pneumatics, electric drives, vision inspection, and specialized functionality into robust, reliable systems).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Custom Automation Custom automation machines designed, built, and integrated around each customer's unique parts, specific needs, and production capabilities. The service encompasses design using SolidWorks 3D modeling, fabrication of custom parts combined with purchased components, and full integration including vision inspection and multi-axis motion systems. Intended for manufacturing businesses requiring automation tailored to their specific products and processes.
Companies that use Better By Design
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Better By Design technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Better By Design partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves4 records
Expansion highlights2 records
Better By Design competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rockwell Automation: Global industrial automation incumbent offering controllers, drives, software, and integration services. Overlaps with BBD's use of pneumatic/electric control and integrated automation but addresses a much broader market and customer base.
Direct peers
- QComp Technologies: Wisconsin-based custom robotic automation and packaging machinery integrator with focus on vision inspection and end-of-line systems. Geographic and capability overlap with Better By Design.
- FPE Automation: Custom industrial automation integrator serving a range of manufacturing clients across the Midwest. Comparable custom design-build-integrate model targeting similar manufacturing customers.
- JR Automation: Large US custom automation integrator offering design, build, and integration of robotic and machine automation systems for manufacturers. Highly comparable to Better By Design's full-stack custom automation model, but at much greater scale.
- Innovative Automation: Canadian custom automation integrator specializing in robotic cells, assembly machines, and vision inspection. Closely aligned with BBD's capabilities in multi-axis motion and integrated vision inspection.
- McIver Engineering & Controls: Acquirer of Better By Design and parent of DLS Custom Automation, providing custom machine building and controls integration for US manufacturers. Operational overlap and now the same value chain as BBD.
- Advanced Automation Systems: Custom automation solutions provider focused on assembly, testing, and material handling equipment. Offers similar design, build, and integrate services for discrete manufacturers.
- DLS Custom Automation: Wisconsin-based custom automation division of McIver Engineering & Controls that acquired Better By Design's assets. Builds custom automated assembly and test systems for manufacturing clients, directly overlapping with BBD's offering.
- Genesis Systems (now part of IPG Photonics): Sturdy custom robotic welding and material handling automation integrator serving automotive and industrial manufacturers. Comparable in custom machine design and integration, with heavier emphasis on robotic welding.
Emerging players
- SystematIC Automation: Mid-size custom automation integrator for assembly and test applications. Smaller than JR Automation but operating in adjacent space to Better By Design's custom automation offering.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Better By Design social profiles
Digital presenceBetter By Design financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Better By Design leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Better By Design funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Better By Design M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Better By Design
What does Better By Design do?
Better By Design designs, builds, and integrates custom automation machines engineered around each customer's unique parts and specific production needs. The service spans three phases — DESIGN (SolidWorks 3D modeling to create machines around customer parts), BUILD (fabricating custom parts and assembling equipment to improve productivity and worker safety), and INTEGRATE (combining pneumatics, electric drives, vision inspection, and specialized functionality into robust systems).
Is Better By Design a public or private company?
Better By Design is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Better By Design founded?
Better By Design was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Better By Design based?
Better By Design is headquartered in Delavan, United States, in the North America region.
Who are Better By Design's main competitors?
Rockwell Automation is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are QComp Technologies, FPE Automation, JR Automation, Innovative Automation, McIver Engineering & Controls, Advanced Automation Systems, DLS Custom Automation and Genesis Systems (now part of IPG Photonics). SystematIC Automation is listed as an emerging player.
Does Better By Design have an API?
No public API is recorded for Better By Design.
What industry is Better By Design in?
Better By Design's product category is Industrial Automation Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAHAL, Factory Automation Cells & Integrated Systems (Assembly, Welding, Painting Lines). Its NAICS code is 333 and its SIC code is 3550.