Miller Electric Expands Welding Automation Offering in North America

APPLETON, Wis. — November 2, 2010 — Miller Electric Mfg. Co. of Appleton, Wis. today announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with Panasonic Welding Systems Co., Ltd., a division of Panasonic Corporation, to make Miller Welding Automation, a new business unit, the distribution route for Panasonic robotic welding arms in North America. The welding arms will be combined with Miller products and delivered to the market as part of a complete automated welding system. As a part of this transaction, Miller has purchased assets of the Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America (PFSA) welding automation business.

“We have aligned ourselves with a global technology leader to bring to market a comprehensive robotic welding automation solution,” said Mike Weller, president of Miller. “Our new welding automation business will combine top-tier Panasonic robotic and electronic technology with Miller’s industry-leading welding products, services and support.”

To augment this business, Miller has created Miller Welding Automation, a business unit within Miller Electric Mfg. Co., dedicated to delivering and supporting the new Miller system. The affected PFSA robotic welding employees will join the new business and continue to support the welding automation needs in North America.

“This partnership is a natural fit, bringing together the resources of two industry-leading companies to deliver the premier automated welding system to the market,” said Tom Gebhardt, president of PFSA. “Miller exemplifies the same performance and customer care culture that PFSA is known for, and we are thrilled to begin introducing this new business model to the North American market.”

Miller Welding Automation will offer a comprehensive array of pre-integrated systems and standalone automated welding components in cooperation with its distributor partners. For more complex customer requirements, Miller will support application-specific systems to qualified integrators.

“This may be the first step for further collaboration between our two companies,” said Koichiro Masai, president of Panasonic Welding Systems. “We believe the synergy between our two organizations can lead to tremendous technological advancements that will directly benefit end users.”

Miller Welding Automation will establish a new dedicated welding automation facility in Carol Stream, Ill. This business will also include a Canadian support office in Mississauga, On. John Winek will serve as the general manager of the new business.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co., headquartered in Appleton, Wis., is a leading worldwide manufacturer of Miller brand arc welding products and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc.