ATM Automation

What ATM Automation does

ATM Automation Limited is a privately held UK engineering firm founded in 1972, headquartered in Blaby, Leicestershire, that designs and manufactures bespoke robotic and special-purpose production automation systems. The company serves manufacturers in the automotive, medical, packaging, building products, plastics, and energy sectors, with primary verticals being automotive Tier 1/Tier 2/OEMs and regulated medical device manufacturers. Its product portfolio is anchored by the proprietary BuildAssist software platform, available in three tiers (Lite, Standard, Automation) that provide a common control environment with operator interface, PLC control, OEE monitoring, OPC-UA/MES connectivity, and CFR21 Part 11 compliance for medical applications. Supporting hardware offerings include bespoke End of Arm Tooling (EOAT), vision inspection systems with up to eight cameras, plastic welding systems, robotic welders, vacuum membrane presses, clipping, tab bending, gluing, and final assembly cells. Notable technical differentiators include handling components from contact-lens-scale to large automotive sub-assemblies, production capacities up to 20 million parts per year for medical lines, and integrated Poka Yoke mistake-proofing.

ATM generates revenue primarily through one-time capital equipment sales of custom-engineered automation cells, with ancillary revenue streams from BuildAssist software licensing, spare parts supply, and preventative maintenance service contracts. The go-to-market model is direct enterprise field sales targeting OEMs and Tier 1/Tier 2 suppliers, supplemented by inside sales, event presence (Automechanika Birmingham, B&R Innovation Day), digital content, and email marketing. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, employs 11-50 staff, and operates from a single UK facility, with no disclosed parent company, external investors, or international offices despite stated international delivery capability.

Name

ATM Automation

Legal name

ATM Automation Limited

Website

https://atmautomation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ATM Automation is a UK-based, privately held engineering firm (founded 1972) that designs and manufactures bespoke robotic and assembly automation systems, anchored by its proprietary BuildAssist software platform, for automotive, medical, packaging, and building products manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Equipment

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Factory Automation Cells & Integrated Systems (Assembly, Welding, Painting Lines) (IMAHAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robot End-of-Arm Tooling (Grippers, Tool Changers, Welding/Cutting Heads) (IMAHAHAD), End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

Keywords

• Industrial automation systems
• Robotic assembly solutions
• End of arm tooling
• Machine vision inspection
• Automotive production automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Blaby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Automation Systems: Design, manufacture, and sale of bespoke automation and robotics systems including assembly systems, welding systems, vision inspection systems, and production automation machines for automotive, medical, and packaging industries. Revenue is generated through one-time capital equipment sales.
2. BuildAssist Software Systems: Proprietary software platforms (Lite, Standard, Automation) sold as part of automation system packages or as standalone control system solutions. Includes optional OEE and MES modules.
3. Spare Parts Supply: Supply of mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic spare parts including bespoke wear parts, change parts, sensors, control cards, and pneumatic components. Competitive pricing through negotiated supplier discounts.
4. Maintenance and Service: Preventative maintenance plans and service support including full nationwide coverage, rapid fault diagnosis, system checks, and repair services for automation systems throughout their operational life.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ATM Automation designs, manufactures, and supports bespoke robot and special-purpose production automation systems for industrial manufacturers, delivered with its proprietary BuildAssist software platform (Lite, Standard, Automation tiers). Its portfolio covers End of Arm Tooling, robotic welding, plastic welding, machine vision inspection, laminating vacuum presses, clipping, punching, tab bending, gluing, final assembly, and specialised optics manufacturing cells for medical/contact-lens production. Offerings are complemented by spare parts supply and preventative maintenance services for the installed base.

Product overview

ATM Automation is a manufacturer of robot and special purpose production automation systems with a portfolio built around the BuildAssist software platform family and specialized hardware solutions. The BuildAssist software range includes three levels: BuildAssist Lite (entry-level for simple tasks), BuildAssist Standard (for semi-automated workstations with multiple technologies), and BuildAssist Automation (full control platform for complex multi-process systems). Supporting hardware includes bespoke End of Arm Tooling (EOAT), precision welding systems (robotic welders, plastic welding, HACS machines), vision inspection systems, laminating vacuum presses, punching, clipping, tab bending, and gluing systems. Industry-specific solutions span Automotive (assembly, final assembly, vision, welding), Medical (optics manufacturing including moulding, de-lensing, filling, de-petaling; ostomy production; medical devices pilot and full automation), and Packaging & Building Products. Services include spare parts supply and preventative maintenance. The BuildAssist software provides Industry 4.0 connectivity via OPC-UA protocols with OEE monitoring and MES integration capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BuildAssist Lite: Entry-level software system designed for simple automation tasks with limited I/O counts using pre-configured sequence of Functional Objects from the BuildAssist Library.
• BuildAssist Standard
• BuildAssist Automation

Products and services

• BuildAssist Lite Entry-level operator interface and control system for simple automation tasks with limited I/O counts (max 16 inputs / 16 outputs), 6-inch screen, and status indication. Sold as an ATM software product suitable as a replacement for traditional pneumatic or relay logic systems in simple automation cells.
• BuildAssist Standard Sophisticated operator interface and control system for semi-automated workstations, with textual and graphical interface, functional objects for data acquisition, barcode reading, and support for up to 50 multiple sequences on 12-inch or 15-inch screens.
• BuildAssist Automation Comprehensive control platform for complex multi-operation, multi-process automation systems, featuring PLC control, network-based I/O, servo and inverter control, built-in safety circuits, CFR21 Part 11 compliance, Industry 4.0 readiness and OPC-UA protocol compatibility.
• End of Arm Tooling (EOAT) Bespoke mechanical and vacuum gripping systems for robots and special-purpose automation, handling components from miniature sizes (contact lens scale) up to large automotive interior sub-assemblies. Includes EOAT kit systems, vacuum cups and accessories, leveraging 40+ years of robot and automation experience.
• Spares Supply of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and EOAT spare parts (including bespoke wear parts, change parts, sensors, control cards and pneumatic components) held at the Blaby facility, with complete parts lists and recommended first-line support spares for customers.
• Services Preventative maintenance plans and service support for the installed automation base, including full nationwide coverage, rapid fault diagnosis, system checks and repair delivered by experienced service engineers.
• Automotive Assembly Systems Flexible automation systems for automotive component manufacture, including assembly systems, welding systems, joining systems, and machine vision inspection, applied to components such as door trim assemblies, carpet and flooring, instrument panels, automotive seats and headliners.
• Laminating Vacuum Membrane Presses Single, double and four-sided bed laminating vacuum membrane presses for laminating materials requiring a smooth and even surface, with quick-change bladder, cycle time from 2.5 minutes, industrial PLC control, infra-red or ambient heating options and edge wrapping capability.
• Robotic Welder Single-point robotic welder with sliding nests using a 6-axis robot to weld and clip automotive parts, with Poka Yoke checks for verification of clips and welds and label printing for operator scanning.
• Hot Air Cold Staking (HACS) Machine Hot air cold staking machine with Poka Yoke checks for automotive welding applications, aborting cycles if components are missing so that no faulty parts pass through production.
• Vision Inspection Systems Machine vision inspection systems for automotive door modules and trim assemblies, checking trim material, colour, stitching, clips, switches, symbols, wiring, screws, speakers, handles and bezels using up to 8 cameras for 100% inspection.
• Plastic Welding Systems Range of plastic welding and joining systems available in single point robot or multi-head configurations (1-3 robots, sliding or rotary nests, single or dual nest configurations), with Poka Yoke checks, OEE and two-way MES connectivity as standard.
• Clipping Systems Range of clipping systems from simple hand applicators to semi-automated clipping benches and fully automated robot clip insertion systems, all incorporating clip sensing for defect-free parts, with light guard protection on automated variants.
• Tab Bending Systems Systems for assembly, testing and verification of bright-work automotive components, performing automatic tab folding, assembly verification using sensors and machine vision, LED insert assembly and testing, and protective film assembly with verification.
• Gluing Systems Systems for adhesive application to automotive components, from single/multiple dispensing heads to 6-axis robots manipulating dispensing nozzles around 3D profiles, including hot melt adhesive systems.
• Final Assembly Systems BuildAssist Rotate range of workstations for large automotive components such as bumpers, spoilers, instrument panels and cowl covers, with counterbalanced vertical/horizontal rotation, disk brake for safe operation, and powered lift for ergonomic height adjustment.
• Precision Punch Systems Component punch systems in single or dual punch configurations with Electric, Pneumatic or Electric Ball Screw drive options, featuring light guards for operator safety and industrial PLC control.
• Optics De-Petaler Automated de-petaling system for separating individual moulds from contact lens 'flowers', with bulk storage magazine, escapement, rotary cutter, six individual tube systems, and Poka Yoke sensing for medical/optics customers.
• Optics De-Lensing High-yield de-lensing system using vibratory bowl feeder, servo axes, nesting tooling, mould splitting blades, pick and place units, mould heating and Delta robot systems, capable of producing up to 20 million units per year.
• Optics Filling Cell Multiple-technology cell for cast mould production with 6-axis robot, multi-station rotary indexing, sprue cutting, precision multi-head monomer filling, assembly, welding and collation.
• Optics Moulding Cell Male and female flower moulding cell for contact-lens production, with dedicated injection moulding machine, 6-axis robot, innovative EOAT for pre-assembly, and a third robot for handling and tray management.
• Ostomy Production Systems High-speed, quick-changeover systems for ostomy flange/wafer products with integrated printing, gluing, welding, punching and vision inspection, including RF welding, pad printing, trepanning, material feed and waste removal modules.
• Medical Devices Full Automation High-volume production automation systems for medical device assembly at up to 20 million parts per year, designed for compliance with GAMP guidelines, cleanliness standards and validation procedures.
• Medical Devices Pilot Build Semi-automated intelligent workstations for medical device pilot build programmes, capable of one assembly per minute and suited for batch runs up to 250,000 parts per annum, using quick change fixtures for flexibility.
• Packaging and Building Products Automation Bespoke automation for packaging and building products, using cartesian and 6-axis robot systems, high-speed side entry robots, vacuum and mechanical gripping systems, laser scoring and vision inspection for packaging, plus high-speed assembly of plumbing fittings and draining products.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production capacity up to 20 million parts per year for medical device manufacturing
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ATS Corporation: Canadian listed custom automation integrator delivering engineered solutions for life sciences, food & beverage, transportation and consumer products. Highly comparable to ATM in providing bespoke, regulated, multi-industry assembly automation at scale.
• Mpac Group plc: UK-listed automation and packaging machinery specialist serving food, beverage, pharmaceutical and healthcare end markets. Closely mirrors ATM's UK base, multi-sector custom automation model, and regulated-customer focus.
• Pacepacker Services: UK-based packaging automation integrator supplying robotic pick-and-place, case packing and end-of-line systems. Directly comparable to ATM's packaging segment and its use of Cartesian and 6-axis robots for packaging lines.
• GB Innomech: UK custom automation integrator focused on life sciences and regulated manufacturing, building bespoke assembly and test systems. Comparable to ATM in regulated, low-to-high volume bespoke integration with a UK engineering base.

Others

• Robot System Products (RSP): Swedish specialist in End of Arm Tooling, tool changers and force-torque sensing for industrial robots. Directly adjacent to ATM's bespoke EOAT offering as a competing/overlapping EOAT specialist supplier.
• Piab Group: Swedish supplier of vacuum-driven gripping and EOAT components used in robotic and automation systems globally. Comparable as an enabling supplier in the EOAT and vacuum handling value chain that ATM also serves with bespoke EOAT.

Broad incumbents

• ABB Ltd: Swiss-Swedish industrial automation giant offering robots, robotics cells, vision and motion control across automotive, manufacturing and process industries. Overlaps with ATM's robotics, vision and integrated cell business as a broad incumbent with global service infrastructure.
• Dürr AG: German mechanical and plant engineering group with leading positions in automotive painting, final assembly and environmental technology. Comparable as a broad incumbent in automotive assembly automation, though at much larger scale and with a different geographic footprint.
• KUKA AG: German-headquartered global industrial robot and automation systems provider with deep automotive and general industry reach. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering robotic cells, welding and assembly automation overlapping ATM's portfolio, though at much larger scale and with standard platforms.
• Coesia Group: Italian privately-held group of packaging and processing machinery companies serving consumer goods, tobacco and industrial markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent in packaging and assembly automation, with end-of-line integration overlapping ATM's packaging offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 ATM Automation