Horan Automation is eyeing revenues of €5 million within three years for its newly-formed joint venture with Chinese company Boxline.
The Co Tipperary-headquartered company last week announced the establishment of Boxline Europe with plans to create up to 30 jobs in automation engineering and sales and marketing in Drangan.
Horan is partnering with Boxline, a Beijing-based company with turnover of $127 million (€109 million) and more than 200 employees, for the new JV, which is focused on overseas markets.
"All the pieces of the jigsaw are in place for us to progress forward. The robotics and automation market demand is predicted to explode and we are now in a position to meet this demand," said Gerry Horan, who founded Horan Automation along with his wife Kathleen in 1994.
Robotic applications
Horan specialises in bespoke robotic applications and end of line automation and mainly serves the pharmaceutical and food/beverage markets.
The new joint venture will focus on robotic cells with designs produced in Tipperary and manufacturing carried out in China.
“This company was attractive to us because it is an integrator of high-quality Kuka robots as we are, and their machines are to a very high standard. We also found that we complimented their sales process and they complimented ours. From the beginnings of a supplier and customer relationship therefore blossomed a great export opportunity,” said Mr Horan.
