Wed, 10/05/2016 - 07:41

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Oct. 5, 2016)—Motion Industries Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company, announced that it has acquired Braas Company. Execution of the transaction was effective Oct. 3, 2016. Braas Company is a leading distributor of products and services for industrial automation and control. Braas was founded in 1961, and has been an employee-owned company with headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn. Braas has more than 150 employees and has a strong automation leadership position throughout the Midwest and southeastern U.S., with five offices and three warehouses. The company specializes in pneumatics, motion control, industrial networking, machine safety, robotics and related industrial parts. In addition, Braas says it a strong reputation in the market as a solutions-provider, supported by a team of experienced application engineers to assist customers from concept to equipment installation, providing productivity improvements across the plant floor. Braas CEO Joe Schwartz commented about the acquisition, “After meeting with several potential buyers, we found a cultural fit with Motion Industries and are very pleased to become part of their team. Becoming part of Motion assures that our employees will be well cared for in the future and that we will have the ability to continue to service our customers and represent our supplier partners in the way which they are accustomed. At the same time, we’ll now have access to even greater capability and resources, enabling us to accelerate the growth of our already successful business.” "We are very pleased about the addition of this well-established company, which will open up new opportunities for Motion Industries in the area of industrial plant floor automation," said Kevin Storer, Motion Industries' Senior Vice President of U.S. Operations. "We welcome all Braas Company employees to the Motion family, and we look forward to the contributions they will make to our company in upcoming years," added Tim Breen, President and CEO of Motion Industries. With annual sales of $4.8 billion, Motion Industries is a leading industrial parts distributor of bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical and industrial automation, hydraulic and industrial hose, hydraulic and pneumatic components, industrial products, safety products, and material handling. Motion Industries has over 550 operations including 15 distribution centers throughout North America and serves more than 150,000 customers from the food and beverage, pulp and paper, iron and steel, chemical, mining and aggregate, petrochemical, automotive, wood and lumber, and pharmaceutical industries.