Piab Company Profile: Ownership, Financials, Acquisitions and Products
Updated: 7 days ago
Piab is a Swedish group that makes vacuum pumps, suction cups and grippers for automation, along with vacuum conveyors and lifting aids. It is 91% owned by Patricia Industries, part of Investor AB, and has sales of SEK 3,446 million and 1,425 employees. This profile sets out its ownership, financial growth, acquisitions and products.
Piab at a Glance
Fact | Detail |
Company | Piab Group |
Country | Sweden |
Sales | SEK 3,446 million |
EBITDA margin | 27% |
Employees | 1,425 |
Owner | Patricia Industries, 91% of capital and votes |
Ultimate parent | Investor AB, listed in Stockholm |
Stock listing | None of its own |
Ownership History
Piab has been through two well-documented changes of owner. The private equity fund EQT VII bought the company in January 2016. Under EQT, revenue over twelve months rose from about SEK 700 million in 2015 to about SEK 1.2 billion by March 2018, and adjusted EBIT from about SEK 200 million to SEK 330 million, helped by a larger sales force, expansion in China and four add-on acquisitions in gripping and moving technology.
In April 2018 EQT agreed to sell Piab to Patricia Industries at an enterprise value of SEK 6,950 million, and the deal closed in June 2018. At that time Piab had 430 employees and customers in almost 70 countries, and its chief executive was Anders Lindqvist.
Growth under Patricia Industries
Measure | At the 2018 sale | Latest reported |
Sales | About SEK 1.2 billion | SEK 3,446 million |
Employees | 430 | 1,425 |
Sales have nearly tripled and the workforce has more than tripled in that period. Patricia Industries attributes the double-digit growth of recent years to organic growth and to acquisitions of niche companies.
Acquisitions
FeiYun: a Chinese supplier of vacuum conveyors and related equipment.
Alum-a-Lift: an American supplier of ergonomic lifting equipment.
Earlier: four add-on acquisitions during EQT's ownership, between 2016 and 2018.
Products
Area | Description |
Vacuum automation | Vacuum pumps, ejectors and suction cups for gripping in automated machines |
End-of-arm tools | Vacuum grippers for robots and cobots, including the piCOBOT range |
Vacuum conveying | Enclosed conveying of powders and bulk materials |
Lifting aids | Semi-automated ergonomic lifting devices |
Recent launches include piCOBOT Electric, the company's first electric decentralized 24-volt vacuum pump, and the PiGRIP Flexible Level Compensator, which adds flexibility to existing suction cups. Industries served include batteries, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food and beverage, additive manufacturing, semiconductors, aerospace and logistics.
Piab product reviews on All Things Cobots
Can You Invest in Piab?
Not directly. Piab has no listing. Its majority owner, Patricia Industries, is part of Investor AB, which trades on Nasdaq Stockholm. This is general information, not investment advice.
Strengths and Challenges
Strengths
High profitability, with an EBITDA margin of 27%.
A long-term owner with capital for acquisitions.
A spread across many end industries.
Challenges
Integration of a steady stream of acquired companies.
Competition in cobot gripping from OnRobot, Robotiq and SCHUNK.
Exposure to the general manufacturing cycle.
Current Catalogue Coverage
Catalogue checked on 15 October 2026: 10 associated product records. The links below are representative entries, rather than a claim that every historical model is currently available.
Piab FAQ
Who owns Piab?
Patricia Industries, part of Investor AB, owns 91%.
Is Piab publicly traded?
No. Its ultimate parent, Investor AB, is listed in Stockholm.
How much did Patricia Industries pay for Piab?
The 2018 deal valued Piab at SEK 6,950 million.
What does Piab make?
Vacuum pumps, suction cups and grippers for automation, vacuum conveyors for powders, and ergonomic lifting aids.
How big is Piab?
Sales are SEK 3,446 million, with 1,425 employees.
Sources
Patricia Industries: Piab Group
EQT: EQT to sell Piab
