Lincoln Electric acquires Torchmate

Lincoln Electric Holdings, a manufacturer of welding and soldering equipment, has announced the acquisition of Applied Robotics, known in the welding industry by its brand name, Torchmate. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Based in Reno, Nev., Torchmate offers a wide selection of CNC plasma and oxyfuel cutting tables and systems to small and medium-sized fabricators. The company's annual sales are approximately $13 million.

"Metal cutting is closely aligned with arc welding, and the addition of Torchmate will bolster our ability to provide cutting process solutions for our customers," said John Stropki, chairman and CEO of Lincoln Electric.

Lincoln Electric is a leading supplier of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment, and has a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. Headquartered in Cleveland, Lincoln has 41 manufacturing locations, including operations and joint ventures in 19 countries and a worldwide network of distributors and sales offices covering more than 160 countries.