Kaman Industrial Technologies Acquires New Jersey Schneider Distributor G.C. Fabrication

Kaman Industrial Technologies, Bloomfield, Conn., executed a definitive agreement to acquire the operating assets of G.C. Fabrication, Inc. (GCF) of Northvale, N.J. The acquisition, expected to close later this month, will expand Kaman’s Automation, Control & Energy platform into the New York metro market.

GCF, founded in 1982, is a premier Schneider Electric/Square D distributor and carries a variety of electrical power, automation, process controls, specialized HVAC, water and wastewater systems, communication and networking devices from a number of global manufacturers. GCF had 2014 sales of approximately $20 million and employs 30 people.

“We are pleased to expand our strategic relationship with Schneider through the acquisition of GCF,” Steve Smidler, president of Kaman said. “The GCF team has an excellent reputation as an engineering services firm with both its suppliers and customers, and a track record of strong financial performance. Its presence in the New York market complements our acquisitions of Minarik, Target Electronic Supply and Zeller and will allow us to continue to execute our strategies in this market.”

GCF principals Joseph Abbatiello and David Plaut will join Kaman. They are quoted in a release saying, “We are thrilled to be joining up with the Kaman team. The combination offers tremendous growth and expansion opportunities for GCF and our people. Further, our product and market knowledge match well with Kaman’s strategy of engineered value-added solutions and technical excellence.”

Kaman scored Schneider Electric’s franchise nationwide in 2012 after acquiring Zeller Corp., Rochester, N.Y. Zeller was part of Schneider Electric’s ACE (automation and control excellence) distributor program and had already set itself apart with a staff of engineers offering technical support to industrial customers.

The focus on offering engineering services is a key part of Kaman’s strategy in the industrial automation and control market since its acquisition of Minarik in 2010, which added depth in high-tech electrical motion control and automation to what was already a substantial position in mechanical bearing and power transmission products, industrial hydraulics and pneumatics and industrial maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies.