Jenoptik acquires Five Lakes Automation

Aug. 22, 2017 – Optoelectronics group Jenoptik has acquired Five Lakes Automation (FLA), a full-service turnkey provider of automated manufacturing solutions.

Headquartered in Novi, Mich., FLA plans and designs automated production lines and integrates them in the customer’s environment including all production systems. The services and products around process engineering and implementation of automated manufacturing solutions include, for example, design, system layout, simulation, controls hardware and software design, robotic handling systems as well as transfer devices.

“The acquisition allows us to win new know-how around automated production and new customers because not only can we offer stand-alone machines now but complete process solutions from a single source,” said Stefan Traeger, Jenoptik president and CEO.

“We are glad to have found a strong partner in Jenoptik that does not only complement our process know-how and specialization product-wise but which will also allow us to open up new markets and industries,” continued FLA president Keith LaPointe, who is also a company founder. He will merge the competencies of Jenoptik’s laser machine business and the process know-how of his company and will be responsible for the Laser Processing business unit of Jenoptik in North America in the future.