SPARTON CORPORATION ACQUIRES KEP MARINE

 

Innovative Electronics Leader to Join with Manufacturing Pioneer

Birdsboro, PA – Kessler-Ellis Products (KEP) – the manufacturer of industry-leading, type approved displays, computers and peripherals, announced today that it has been acquired by Sparton Corporation (SPA) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Sparton IED, LLC, on January 21, 2015. Founded in 1960, KEP Marine’s product lines will be consolidated into the Aydin Displays facility, located in Birdsboro, PA.

"The addition of KEP Marine meets the criteria of our growth strategy by growing our ruggedized electronics platform with additional ruggedized display and industrial computers in the harsh and demanding marine market sector, diversifying our customer base and increasing utilization of our existing assets,” stated Cary B. Wood, president and chief executive officer, Sparton. “Additionally, KEP Marine brings solid, long term customer relationships that will benefit from Sparton’s expanded list of service offerings.”

"We are extremely excited to be part of the Sparton Group,” said Anthony Zuccarelli, vice president, KEP Marine. “The synergies at all levels, specifically engineering, manufacturing and the resources of the Sparton platform – will enable Aydin, IED and KEP Marine to develop leading-edge products that will substantially benefit all our customers."

“We are pleased to add KEP Marine into Aydin Displays, allowing us to further enhance our market position in the marine market,” commented Art Mengel, general manager, Aydin Displays. “In the coming months we will transition KEP’s customers to Birdsboro with an orderly and seamless approach, using contemporary tools such as Sparton’s New Product Introduction (NPI) and Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes.”

“This tuck-in acquisition is a great example of our strategy to maximize existing assets while expanding our ruggedized electronics product platform,” continued Wood. “Since there will not be an addition of significant fixed overhead in Birdsboro related to this transaction, we expect KEP Marine’s revenue to enhance the Company’s Manufacturing & Design Services segment EBITDA. Coupled with the IED acquisition in December, we expect that Aydin Displays’ revenue will increase by 30% and that the combined acquisitions will be accretive to earnings within the next nine to twelve months, once transitioning activities are completed.”

For more information on KEP Marine or its entire marine product line, contact 800-631-2165 ext 353 (toll-free) in the USA or visit www.kepmarine.com.

 

By Ocean Navigator