Sortation solution provider BlueCrest has acquired Fluence Automation, a provider of mail distribution, logistics and parcel automation technologies.
Fluence Automation will maintain its principal location in Arlington Heights, Illinois, but will be referred to as Fluence Automation, a BlueCrest Company in the short-term.
This acquisition is intended to combine the companies’ hardware, software, controls and imaging solutions to accelerate growth in the e-commerce fulfillment and parcel sortation markets. Fluence Automation was chosen by BlueCrest for its solutions-oriented approach to servicing its large installed base of customers. Its solutions set includes products for material handling, postal parcel processing, inbound/receiving, postal shipping, vote-by-mail, OCR software, address look-up and application software for mail, flats and parcels. It also includes letters, parcels and flats sorting, alongside verification and inspection, as well as high-speed print and apply labeling.
Dennis LeStrange, president and CEO of Bluecrest, said, “The acquisition of Fluence Automation is a great example of BlueCrest executing its strategy. In the postal automation market, we will provide the broadest array of solutions and continue to grow in this space through product innovation both in the US and the international markets. Additionally, the combination of the companies’ parcel/e-commerce and vote-by-mail solutions will greatly expand our offering in these exciting growth markets.”
Mike Swift, president of Fluence, added, “This is a great opportunity for both Fluence and BlueCrest. The combination of our solutions with BlueCrest’s resources further strengthens our position in sortation technology. Our market focus has been on offering transformative automation for organizations that process mail and parcels. BlueCrest’s breadth and scale further enhances the technology and support that we can provide for our customers.”
Adam Cooper, managing director of Platinum Equity, said, “We are excited about the prospects of bringing these companies together. This complementary acquisition is a direct reflection of our continued support of BlueCrest’s long-term objectives by investing in growth organically and through strategic mergers and acquisitions. We will continue to pursue further opportunities that can help BlueCrest achieve its strategic plans faster.”