Persimmon Technologies, a US-based provider of vacuum robotics and hybrid-field motor technology for the semiconductor and solar equipment markets, has raised $5.8m in its series B round.
Intel Capital, the corporate venturing unit of the eponymous US-listed chip maker, and the Bernard M. Gordon Charitable Remainder Trust, which was set up by Bernie Gordon, founder of Analogic, join Japan-based industrial group Nidec Sankyo as “major equity holders” in the company after the B round.
Persimmon sell Nidec’s robots but not its industrial motors in the US and has Kaz Kondo, manager of Nidec-Sankyo America, and Satoshi Fukushima, chief executive of the US subsidiary, on its board.
Fukushima by email said: “Although acquiring companies which have business synergies is one of means of growing for Nidec Group, the case of Persimmon Technologies, or investing a venture company, is a special case of its capital investment.
“Usually, Nidec acquires grown companies. However, Nidec Sankyo has invested Persimmon because of its technological possibilities and experienced business background.”
Laura Oliphant, investment director of Intel Capital, said: “Persimmon’s innovation in precision vacuum robotics and hybrid-field motor technologies represents an opportunity to reduce cost and improve reliability in semiconductor device manufacturing.”
“Intel Capital’s support of Persimmon will accelerate the development of our technology and the growth of our company,” said Michael Pippins, executive president of Persimmon, adding: “Also, we are very pleased to add the Gordon Trust as an investor. Bernard Gordon, the founder of Analogic and a renowned technologist, is a strategic addition to our investor base. We intend to benefit from his experience in building significant technology companies.”
In a regulatory filing in March last year, Persimmon said it had raised $2m of a planned $4m round.