Mechanix Wear Acquires OTEX

Mechanix Wear Acquires Chicago Protective Apparel

August 17, 2021

Manufacturing

Mechanix Wear, a Gryphon Investors-backed portfolio company, has acquired Chicago Protective Apparel (CPA), a 108-year-old family-owned manufacturer of personal protective equipment based in Skokie, Illinois. The deal — terms undisclosed — brings CPA's extensive line of arc-flash, foundry, and welding products into Mechanix Wear's portfolio as the prior owners, Scott and Myrna Sherman, retire; key management including VP John Merikoski will remain.

Mechanix Wear Acquires Kinco

June 23, 2025

Consumer Products

Mechanix Wear, a portfolio company of Gryphon Investors, has acquired Kinco, the 50-year-old family-owned maker of premium work, farm, and outdoor gloves; terms were not disclosed. Travis Kindler will remain as Kinco President and retain a minority stake; the acquisition (which includes Kinco-owned Welch suspenders) is the second add-on for the Mechanix Wear platform and is expected to broaden product offerings and channel reach.

Ottobock Acquires Exoskeleton Specialist suitX

November 3, 2021

Medical Devices

Ottobock has acquired 100% of suitX, a US-based developer of occupational and medical exoskeletons spun out of UC Berkeley. suitX will join Ottobock Bionic Exoskeletons to combine product portfolios, expand Ottobock's North American footprint, and accelerate adoption of occupational and medical exoskeleton solutions.

Fox Innovation & Technologies Acquires Cotter Holdings Group

August 6, 2024

Industrial Services

Fox Innovation & Technologies (a PE-backed platform backed by Bluewater) has acquired Cotter Holdings Group, including S.T. Cotter Turbine Services, Axis Mechanical Group and Axis Industrial Repair, to add field project execution capabilities to its turbomachinery platform. The deal brings the combined Fox platform to over $100 million in proforma LTM revenue and adds ~500 peak-capacity field personnel to expand service coverage across the United States; terms were not disclosed.

OX Group Global Acquires Armor Tool

May 2, 2024

Manufacturing

OX Group Global has acquired Armor Tool, a maker of auto‑adjusting woodworking and welding clamps and self‑adjusting pocket hole jigs. The deal expands OX Group Global’s product portfolio and IP (including multiple issued patents) and aims to leverage OX’s worldwide distribution to grow the Armor Tool brand.

Arxis Acquires Micro-Tronics

January 9, 2026

Aerospace & Defense

Arxis, a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, has acquired Micro-Tronics, Inc., a Tempe, Arizona-based manufacturer of engineered elastomeric and metallic components for commercial aerospace and defense applications. The add-on strengthens Arxis' Mechanical Components segment by adding MTI's elastomeric diaphragm, seal assembly and high-precision EDM capabilities to support mission-critical aerospace and defense programs.