Star Automation

What Star Automation does

Star Automation, Inc. (SAI) is a Wisconsin-incorporated, privately held manufacturer and distributor of automation equipment for plastic injection molding operations, founded in 1991 and headquartered in Menomonee Falls. The company produces cartesian servo-driven automatic unloaders (SA Series, HMVII Series, LW VII Series, TW VII Series, MHY VII Series, plus Ultra Large FMIV robots), sprue pickers, conveyors, pallet changers, custom end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), and programmable automation controllers. Its robotics are deployed by injection molding companies for automated part takeout, sprue picking, and pallet filling, with STEC-series pendant controllers (multi-language touch-screen interfaces) and bundled implementation/operator training positioned as core usability differentiators. Star Automation operates as the exclusive North American sales, installation, and service arm of Star Seiki (Japan), the original pioneer of injection molding robotic unloaders.

The company generates revenue through two streams: (1) one-time hardware sales of IMM automation equipment, priced on a custom basis against IMM tonnage requirements and model configuration, and (2) recurring service, parts replacement, and operational training tied to the installed base, with 24/7 worldwide support offered. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is delivered via a sales-led, direct-quote model. Go-to-market is anchored on a website featuring "Contact Our Experts" and "Get A Free Quote" CTAs, supplemented by LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram presence. Distribution is exclusively direct via eight regional offices across the United States (Milwaukee HQ, Michigan, Georgia, California, Indiana, Rhode Island) and two wholly-owned subsidiaries — SAI Canada and Star Seiki Mexico S.A. DE C.V. — collectively providing North American coverage.

The customer base is described as injection molding companies, supported by an undisclosed number of testimonial references (first names only: Shawn, David, Logan, Rick, Curtis) praising sales and service quality. No named enterprise logos, revenue concentration, or end-market segmentation is publicly disclosed. Star Automation holds no disclosed patents, awards, regulatory actions, or AI/ML capabilities, and its product roadmap centers on incremental hardware line extensions rather than software-driven differentiation.

Name

Star Automation

Legal name

Star Automation, Inc.

Website

https://starautomation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Star Automation, Inc. manufactures and services servo-driven robotic automation equipment — automatic unloaders, sprue pickers, conveyors, pallet changers, and EOAT — for plastic injection molding facilities across North America, operating from eight regional offices in the US, Canada, and Mexico as the exclusive North American arm of Japan's Star Seiki.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Robotics

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (3333), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Robots (Articulated, SCARA, Delta, Cartesian) (IMAHAHAA)

Keywords

• Injection molding automation
• IMM robots
• Servo driven unloaders
• Plastic manufacturing robotics
• End of arm tooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Menomonee Falls

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. IMM Automation Robots and Equipment: Sale of injection molding automation equipment including servo robots, sprue pickers, conveyors, and pallet changers. One-time hardware sales with associated parts and service revenue.
2. Service, Parts, and Training: Ongoing service, parts replacement, and operational training for installed base. 24/7 support available worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Star Automation designs, manufactures, sells, and services servo motor driven automation robots and equipment for plastic injection molding machines (IMM). Their product portfolio includes multiple series of automatic unloaders (SA, HMVII, LW VII, TW VII, MHY VII), ultra large FMIV servo robots, sprue pickers, conveyors, pallet changers, palletizers, programmable automation controllers, and custom end-of-arm tooling (EOAT). Every robot purchase includes implementation and operator training, supported by 24/7 worldwide service.

Product overview

Star Automation provides manufacturing, sales, service, and parts for injection molding automation operations in North America. Their product portfolio includes multiple series of servo motor driven automatic unloaders for injection molding machines (IMM): SA Series, HMVII Series, LW VII Series, TW VII Series, and MHY VII Series. These are complemented by sprue pickers, conveyors, pallet changers, end of arm tooling (EOAT), automation controllers, and ultra large servo robots. The company also offers ultra large FMIV servo robots for handling bigger loads. Star Automation's robotics are used for automated part takeout, sprue picking, and pallet filling operations in plastic molding facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SA Series Servo Robots

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Star Seiki (Japan)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStar Seiki is the parent company that pioneered the development of injection molding robots for automatic unloading. Star Automation serves as the exclusive North American representative for Star Seiki products, handling sales, installation, and maintenance for North American users. The partnership involves creative product development including air cylinder and servo motor driven unloaders, with Star Automation directed by Star Seiki to produce next-generation injection molding robots and FA systems.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• KUKA Robotics: Major industrial robotics incumbent offering Cartesian and articulated robots used in plastics injection molding automation, competing for IMM cell integration projects at larger scale than specialist suppliers.
• ABB Robotics: Global industrial robot supplier with a broad plastics automation portfolio including 6-axis and Cartesian robots for IMM cells, leveraging deep R&D and software capabilities to target the plastics factory floor that SAI serves.
• ENGEL Holding: Global injection molding machine manufacturer that also supplies integrated automation cells and robots around its IMMs, overlapping in IMM downstream automation even where the primary product is the press itself.
• Yaskawa Motoman: Major supplier of industrial robots used in plastics injection molding cells, with a broad product platform and significant North American installed base competing for the same factory automation budgets.
• Husky Injection Molding Systems: Major North American injection molding equipment supplier offering integrated automation solutions, often packaging its robots and downstream equipment alongside its IMMs into single procurement events.
• FANUC America: World-leading industrial robot manufacturer with deep North American presence supplying Cartesian and articulated robots for plastics automation, representing a sizeable well-capitalized competitor across SAI's market.
• KraussMaffei: German manufacturer of injection molding machines and automation cells, providing turnkey IMM + robot + downstream integration that competes against SAI's standalone automation offering at the broader systems level.

Direct peers

• Yushin Precision Equipment: Japanese-founded market leader in take-out robots for injection molding machines with a comparable product portfolio of servo-driven unloaders, sprue pickers, and EOAT serving plastics processors globally, including in North America.
• Sepro Robotique: France-based independent supplier of Cartesian and 6-axis robots dedicated to injection molding automation, with North American operations directly competing for the same IMM robot purchases.
• Wittmann Battenfeld: Specialist supplier of injection molding automation including robots, sprue pickers, conveyors, and downstream equipment, serving the same plastics manufacturing customers with a closely overlapping product line.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@STARAUTOMATIONsince1991
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61555691335485
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/star-automation-inc/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/starautomation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Star Automation