Franklin Automation

What Franklin Automation does

Franklin Automation, Inc. is a Sugar Grove, Illinois-based designer and manufacturer of custom industrial assembly and testing machines, founded in 1990 by Frank M. Kigyos and operating from a 10,500 square foot facility. The company builds turnkey indexing assembly machines (800 to 7,200 parts per hour), continuous motion assembly machines (9,000 to 60,000 parts per hour, supporting 50-400 million pieces per year), and drop-on-demand digital printing machines, integrating standard automation building blocks (vibratory feeders, vision systems, LVDT measurement, leak and pressure testing, robots, AB PLCs, and Festo/SMC pneumatics) alongside proprietary components such as eManip cam manipulators, FIFO linear conveyors, the MOMA event monitoring system, and a VPN-based remote maintenance infrastructure. Franklin Automation has delivered 250+ machines across the United States and Canada, with some installations operating for over 25 years, and serves medical device manufacturers, automotive component suppliers, dental and brush producers, cosmetics and perfume packagers, and electrical/connector manufacturers.

The company is privately held and was acquired in 2021 by the French industrial automation conglomerate NEYRET GROUP, which also owns Lagniel SAS (continuous motion), GNSA/Societe Guy Neyret (indexing), and NAAM Automation (China/Southeast Asia); following the acquisition, Frank M. Kigyos returned as CEO while Kevin Kigyos was named VP of Engineering, retaining family operational leadership. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of custom capital equipment, supplemented by recurring aftermarket service contracts, spare parts, machine modernization, and training. Go-to-market is sales-led, with dedicated technical and commercial teams working directly with enterprise customers, supplemented by channel representation for German principals Zahoransky AG (since 1997) and Wohler Brushtech (since 2012), industry trade show participation (Automate 2025, booth 407), and a multi-channel content presence through YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

Franklin Automation

Legal name

Franklin Automation, Inc.

Website

https://franklinautomation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Franklin Automation designs and manufactures custom indexing and continuous motion assembly machines, plus digital printing equipment, serving medical, automotive, dental, cosmetic, and industrial customers across North America from its Sugar Grove, Illinois headquarters as the U.S. arm of France's NEYRET GROUP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Assembly Automation Machinery

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)

Keywords

• Custom assembly machines
• Indexing motion machines
• Continuous motion assembly
• Industrial automation equipment
• Digital inkjet printing

Headquarters

HQ city

Sugar Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Assembly Machine Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of custom indexing and continuous motion assembly machines. Machines are delivered turnkey with peripheral equipment. One-time capital purchase for custom automation solutions.
2. After-Sales Service and Support: Annualized service contracts providing regular monitoring, maintenance, repair, training, and OEE improvement. Technical assistance including installation, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, and equipment transfer. Machine audits with recommendations for curative and preventive maintenance.
3. Spare Parts: Manufacture of specific machine parts in internal machine shop plus stock of standard spare parts for rapid delivery. Support for building customer spare parts inventory.
4. Machine Modernization: Upgrade services for existing machines including mechanical, electronic, vision, and program upgrades. Additional security measures, regulatory compliance, station upgrades, performance improvements, and integration of connected systems.
5. Training Services: Operational training adapted to assembly machine specifications. Training during FAT at Franklin and SAT at customer premises. On-demand training sessions for skill maintenance and new employee onboarding. Programming training for engineers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Franklin Automation designs, manufactures, and services custom indexing and continuous motion assembly machines, drop-on-demand digital inkjet printing machines, and supporting peripheral equipment for medical, automotive, dental/brush, cosmetic, and electrical component manufacturers. Each project is delivered as a turnkey solution spanning concept, design, fabrication, assembly, validation (FAT/SAT), installation, training, and ongoing remote monitoring and modernization.

Product overview

Franklin Automation is a manufacturer of custom industrial assembly and printing machines, organized as part of the Neyret Group. The product portfolio centers on three core machine types: Indexing Assembly and Testing Machines (automatic, semi-automatic, and manual configurations ranging 800-7,200 parts/hour), Continuous Motion Assembly Machines (9,000-60,000 parts/hour for high-volume production), and Digital Printing Machines (drop-on-demand inkjet with 360-degree capability). Machine Peripheral Equipment provides complementary systems including palletizers, FIFO conveyors, and transfer mechanisms. The machines serve application-specific markets including Medical devices, Automotive components, Dental and Brush products, Perfume and Cosmetic packaging, and Electrical and Connectors. These products are complemented by services including Process Monitoring (remote maintenance and event monitoring), Quality management (validation protocols), Training, and After Sales Service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indexing Assembly and Testing Machines Custom indexing assembly machines configured as automatic, semi-automatic, or manual systems, with outputs from 800 to 3,600 cycles per hour and up to 7,200 parts per hour when assembling multiple components per cycle. Modular stations, interchangeable tooling, integrated quality controls, and the proprietary eManip cam manipulators enable precise indexing for medical, automotive, and other regulated assembly applications.
• Continuous Motion Assembly Machines High-speed continuous motion assembly machines operating at 9,000 to 60,000 parts per hour (200-1,000 parts per minute) for production runs of 50 to 400 million pieces per year. Machines integrate high-speed ultrasonic welding up to 600 pieces per minute and on-the-fly quality controls, and are supplied to customers as part of NEYRET GROUP's continuous motion technology offering.
• Digital Printing Machines Drop-on-demand digital inkjet printing machines with delayed customization of semi-finished products, magnetic conveying with independent programming of pallet speed, position, and acceleration, and 360-degree printing capability for cylindrical parts. Includes food-industry-safe UV inks, four-color printing with varnish and plasma treatment, and asynchronous motion enabling parallel operations.
• Medical Device Assembly Machines Application-specific assembly machines for medical devices including safety syringes, needle protection systems, prefilled syringes, insulin pens, metered dose inhalers, pacemakers, and diagnostic tests. Configured for cleanroom environments with FDA validation protocols, 100% online compliance inspection, and traceability required for regulated medical device manufacturing.
• Automotive Assembly Machines Application-specific assembly machines for automotive components such as door handles, cylinder head gaskets, EGR coolers, fuel line connectors, seat belt components, and tire studs. Configured for interchangeable tooling, robot integration, and flexible distribution to support multiple product models on a single machine with short production changeovers.
• Dental and Brush Assembly Machines Application-specific assembly machines for dental devices (prophylactic contra angles, micro-applicators) and brush products (electric toothbrush heads, industrial applicators, household brushes, mascara brushes). Incorporate specialized processes for tufting, trimming, grinding, handle assembly, labeling, and packing.
• Perfume and Cosmetic Assembly Machines High-speed application-specific assembly machines for cosmetics and perfumery packaging components including perfume pumps, atomizers, soap pumps, airless pumps, vaporizers, aerosol valves, lipsticks, mascara brushes, makeup brushes, and deodorant applicators. Includes decorating machines for lower-volume cosmetic product requirements with quality control and careful component handling.
• Electrical and Connector Assembly Machines Application-specific assembly and testing machines for electrical products including circuit breakers, disconnectors, electromagnetic relays, fuses, over-molded automotive connectors, power canalis, RJ45 outlets, and child-safety socket outlets. Integrate circuit separation, insert mold component feeding, resistance welding, high-pot and continuity testing, and laser marking.
• Other Industrial Assembly Machines Custom automation machines for diverse industries including retail, office, mining, home and garden, military, and other sectors. Specific applications include gas cartridges, breathalyzers, lighters, drywall anchors, pepper mills, shelf fronting devices, conveyor belt fasteners, ballpoint pens, and paint markers.
• Machine Peripheral Equipment Turnkey peripheral equipment sold alongside Franklin's assembly machines, including robotic palletizers and depalletizers for thermoformed trays, proprietary FIFO conveyors with 3-5 minute accumulation buffer capacity, transfer and synchronization systems, loading components (vibratory bowls, hoppers, drums), and unloading assemblies for bulk, tray, or blister packing.
• After Sales Service Recurring technical support service covering telephone and on-site intervention, spare parts manufacturing and supply, machine audits with curative and preventive maintenance recommendations, troubleshooting, and machine modernization (mechanics, electronics, vision systems, program upgrades, regulatory compliance, and connected-systems integration).
• Training Training service covering operational, maintenance, and programming skills for Franklin Automation machines, delivered during Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at Franklin's facility and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) at customer premises. Includes on-demand training sessions for skill maintenance, new employee onboarding, and programming autonomy for engineers.
• Process Monitoring Production and process monitoring service offering remote maintenance via secure VPN router with firewall IP filtering, the proprietary MOMA event monitoring system with continuous video surveillance (15-day storage) and timeline-linked alerts, real-time HMI display, and optional CSV data collection with Pareto analysis for OEE and fault pattern identification.
• Quality Management Services Quality management and validation services covering Design Qualification (DQ), Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) including Pre-FAT internal testing, Site Acceptance Testing (SAT), FMECA risk analysis, and IQ/OQ validation protocols required for regulated manufacturing environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50-400 million pieces per year production capacity with continuous motion machines
• +3 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NEYRET GROUPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Franklin Automation was acquired by NEYRET GROUP in 2021. Frank M. Kigyos was named CEO and Kevin Kigyos became VP of Engineering following the acquisition. The partnership provides Franklin with access to continuous motion technology from Lagniel SAS and indexing expertise from GNSA (Society Guy Neyret), enabling combined capabilities across both technologies for North American customers.
• Lagniel SAScoreTechnology or IntegrationPart of NEYRET GROUP, Lagniel SAS specializes in continuous motion assembly machines with speeds of 200-1000 parts/minute. Franklin serves as primary sales and service contact for Lagniel products in North America.
• Society Guy Neyret (GNSA)coreTechnology or IntegrationPart of NEYRET GROUP, GNSA specializes in indexing machines from 2,400 to 14,400 parts per hour. Franklin represents GNSA products in North America with combined assembly capabilities.
• Zahoransky AG (Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFRANKLIN AUTOMATION named US Sales Representative for Zahoransky AG of Germany in 1997, representing their brush manufacturing technology.
• Wohler Brushtech (Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFRANKLIN AUTOMATION named US Sales Representative for Wohler Brushtech of Germany in 2012, expanding brush industry automation representation.
• NAAM Automation LTDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of NEYRET GROUP, NAAM (Changzhou) Automation LTD provides sales and customer service for NEYRET GROUP customers throughout China and Southeast Asia.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Swiss-Swedish multinational with a large Robotics & Discrete Automation business serving automotive, electronics, and healthcare assembly. Overlaps with Franklin in motion control and robot-integrated assembly cells.
• Rockwell Automation: Global industrial automation incumbent offering PLCs, motion control, robotics, and software-defined production systems. Competes with Franklin when enterprise customers standardize on Rockwell's Logix/Allen-Bradley platform, which Franklin itself uses.

Regional players

• Lagniel SAS: Sister company under NEYRET GROUP, headquartered in France, specializing in continuous motion assembly machines (200–1,000 parts/min). Operates in the same product category as Franklin but serves primarily the European market.
• Société Guy Neyret (GNSA): Sister company under NEYRET GROUP, based in Lyon, France, specializing in indexing machines (2,400–14,400 parts/hour). Functionally comparable in core technology but serves European customers from the parent group's French home market.

Direct peers

• ATS Automation: Largest Canadian-listed custom automation integrator, designing and building assembly, testing, and material-handling machines for medical, automotive, and consumer products globally. Most direct competitor in the North American custom assembly machine market.
• Bihler of America: German-headquartered manufacturer of high-speed stamping and assembly machines (Bihler GRM and Variomatic), with a North American operation serving medical, automotive, and electrical connector customers. Direct competitor in indexing and continuous motion assembly.
• Premier Automation: U.S. custom automation integrator based in Pennsylvania, providing turnkey assembly, robotics, and machine vision solutions to automotive, food/beverage, and life sciences customers. Comparable size and vertical mix to Franklin Automation.
• Sage Automation: U.S. custom automation specialist in assembly, material handling, and robotic integration for automotive, food and beverage, and consumer goods. Direct mid-market peer in custom assembly machinery.
• Innovative Automation: Canadian custom automation integrator serving automotive, medical, and consumer products with assembly, testing, and robotic cells. Competes with Franklin in the Great Lakes manufacturing corridor.

Emerging players

• Bright Machines: San Francisco-based software-defined automation company building modular assembly cells with computer vision and AI, primarily for consumer electronics and medical devices. Emerging competitor pursuing a more software-centric, lower-engineering-overhead model than traditional players like Franklin.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Frankautomation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtpG0oV6aaN80M5FFGeczhw
• Facebookfacebook.com/franklinautomationinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franklin-automation-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Franklin Automation