As part of a dedicated build-and-build strategy, funds managed by Alpina Partners (Alpina) have invested in Syncos.
Founded in 2014 as a spin-off from innotec Systemtechnik, Syncos offers its “Mittelstand” customers in the manufacturing sector holistic MES solutions (Manufacturing Execution Systems). The software covers production and machine data acquisition (“PDA” / ”MDA”), advanced planning and scheduling (”APS”), track-and-trace as well as computer-aided quality assurance (”CAQ”). The current version of the software combines production and quality management in a highly integrated, modular system.
Alpina invested in Syncos via a holding company, which already holds shares in ERP companies oxaion and cimdata Software. Hence, Syncos will become part of a larger group, which offers enterprise software for “Mittelstand” manufacturing businesses. Syncos has been one of the leading project-oriented MES solution providers. The functionality offered by Syncos ideally complement the existing ERP solutions. Thus, the group is able to provide customers with a much broader set of modules compared to traditional ERP providers for manufacturing businesses. In addition to organic growth, the group intends to engage in further strategic add-on acquisitions.
Stephan Rohleder, founder of innotec Systemtechnik and Syncos, says: “The decision for the right partner for Syncos was not an easy one. In the end, we decided to go with Alpina since we are convinced that the existing group is a good home for Syncos’ further development – several independent software companies with the same customer focus but complementary products all targeting the production space”.
Volker Schinkel, Group CEO and Managing Director of oxaion, says: “Syncos is the perfect addition to the existing ERP product portfolio focusing on manufacturing companies. In the context of an increase in digitalisation and automation, the link between ERP and the shop floor is becoming more and more important. “Industrie 4.0” means a shift in planning down to the level of individual machines. With Syncos, our group is able to offer a broad range of functions which add, especially in combination with our ERP systems, real value for medium-sized production companies”.
Dr Florian Strehle, Partner at Alpina, says: “From the very beginning, Alpina’s consolidation strategy has focused on software products for the manufacturing midmarket. This does not only include the ERP layer, but also the shop floor. Syncos enables the group to provide the customer with as much functionality as possible in order to meet the requirements of a modern production system”.
Alpina is an owner-managed, independent investment firm with approximately EUR 300 million in assets under management. The firm focuses on small and mid-sized businesses in Europe with strong technical USPs. Alpina supports entrepreneurs and management teams to implement its growth strategies. Alpina is supported by the European Union through the “Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Program” (CIP).
