AMETEK Expands Portfolio with $1.62 B Acquisition of Four High‑Tech Firms, Including Abaco Systems and Crank Software

As part of a US$1.62 billion expansion, electronic instruments manufacturer AMETEK, Inc. is acquiring four companies, notably mission‑critical embedded computing firm Abaco Systems and embedded GUI software provider Crank Software.

In its initial announcement, AMETEK disclosed a definitive agreement to purchase Abaco Systems from Veritas Capital in an all‑cash transaction valued at $1.35 billion. A subsequent press release confirmed the completion of three additional deals—Magnetrol International, Crank Software, and EGS Automation—for a combined price of $270 million.

Abaco Systems, formerly GE’s Intelligent Systems division before its 2015 re‑launch, specializes in open‑architecture computing and rugged electronic systems for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Its products are engineered to endure extreme temperatures, high vibration, and other harsh environments. With annual sales of approximately $325 million and headquarters in Huntsville, Alabama, the company is expected to close the transaction in mid‑2021, subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Upon closing, Abaco will join AMETEK’s Electronic Instruments Group (EIG), which delivers advanced analytical, monitoring, testing, calibration, and display instruments and reported $3.0 billion in annual sales.

In January 2021, Abaco launched the GVC1001—a rugged graphics, vision, and AI computer designed for size, weight, and power (SWaP) constrained platforms, built on Nvidia’s Jetson AGX Xavier module. The GVC1001 targets 360° situational awareness, autonomous vehicles, EO/IR processing, degraded visual environments (DVE), and advanced display processing.

Recent contracts highlight Abaco’s capabilities: a multi‑million dollar design win for sixty units of its VP430 RFSoC, a direct RF processing system slated for a counter‑fire radar upgrade in an electronic warfare suite; and a $4.5 million lifetime potential award for its MAGIC1A, a high‑performance embedded system set to upgrade the side‑head‑up display on AC‑130J gunships.

Crank Software, EGS, and Magnetrol

Headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, Crank Software and Magnetrol will integrate into AMETEK’s EIG. EGS Automation, based in Donaueschingen, Germany, will join the Electromechanical Group (EMG), which supplies thermal management, automation, and engineered solutions.

Crank Software’s flagship product, Storyboard, is a cutting‑edge embedded GUI development platform. It imports graphics from tools such as Photoshop, Sketch, and Illustrator, allowing developers to test and validate functionality with a simulator directly on target hardware. The latest release, Storyboard 7.0, introduces rapid design import and iteration, enabling developers to visualize and adjust assets swiftly.

EGS Automation designs and manufactures highly engineered robotic solutions for critical applications in the medical, food and beverage, and general industrial sectors.

Magnetrol, based in Aurora, Illinois, specializes in level and flow control solutions for demanding process applications across medical, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, food and beverage, and general industrial markets. Its mission‑critical products optimize processes, maximize yields, and ensure safety.

AMETEK, a global manufacturer of electronic instruments and electromechanical devices, reported over $4.5 billion in sales in 2020.