Engineering Services Acquisitions in Ohio

Inframark has acquired Dmytryka Jacobs Engineers (DJE), a Toledo-based firm that designs and implements instrumentation, control, and automation systems for municipal water and wastewater clients. The purchase expands Inframark’s Automation & Intelligence capabilities and Midwest presence; DJE’s leadership and staff will remain with the business.

CPL, a multi-disciplined architecture, engineering and planning firm, has acquired Andrews Architects, a Worthington, Ohio-based architecture firm specializing in healthcare, senior living and mixed-use multifamily design. The acquisition expands CPL’s presence in Columbus and across Ohio while adding Andrews’ healthcare design expertise to CPL’s regional capabilities.

Salas O'Brien has announced that BWK Engineering has joined the firm, adding MEP, fire protection, and technology design capabilities and an Akron, Ohio office. The merger expands Salas O'Brien’s presence in Ohio and strengthens its service offering to healthcare, education, and commercial clients.

Brightstar Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm, has acquired KZF Design, a multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, and design firm headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brightstar intends to establish KZF as a platform in the architecture industry, with former AECOM CEO Mike Burke serving as KZF board chair and a stated strategy to expand via organic growth and M&A.

Verdantas, a private-equity-backed environmental and engineering platform, has acquired Lewandowski Engineers, a Toledo-based civil engineering and surveying firm. The add-on expands Verdantas' Great Lakes-area capabilities—notably waterfront and bathymetric surveying—and is supported by RTC Partners, Verdantas' private equity backer.

Verdantas, a private-equity-backed sustainable engineering and environmental services firm, has acquired Watcon Consulting Engineers to strengthen Verdantas' civil engineering, surveying, and water/waste capabilities in central Ohio. The deal expands Verdantas' local leadership and resources in Ohio; RTC Partners (Verdantas' financial sponsor) commented on the strategic fit and supports continued add-on activity.

Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) has acquired the assets of RAM USA; RAM Companies, LLC will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of SEH. The acquisition brings RAM's patented non-destructive facility and infrastructure assessment technologies into SEH's service offerings, expanding SEH's roof, pavement, and lighting assessment capabilities and strengthening its planning, engineering, and architectural services.

Atwell has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Dempsey Surveying Company, a land surveying firm based in Lakewood/Cleveland, Ohio. The acquisition expands Atwell’s surveying capabilities and presence in Ohio and the Midwest; the deal was expected to close by Dec. 31, 2022.

Copley Equity Partners partnered with LJB Inc.'s management team to acquire an equity interest in the engineering services firm LJB Inc.; terms were not disclosed. The investment will support LJB's organic growth and pursue accretive M&A to expand geographies and service offerings.

Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS), a CIVC Partners portfolio company, has acquired TruePoint Laser Scanning to add 3D laser scanning, as‑built surveys, and BIM modeling capabilities to its subsurface locating and concrete scanning services. The acquisition expands GPRS’s above‑ground mapping and reality-capture offerings and supports integration with its SiteMap platform to better serve AEC, utilities, and facility-management customers.

Convergint, a global service-based systems integrator, has acquired Systems 28, Inc., an Ohio-based systems integrator specializing in fire alarm and life safety services. The acquisition expands Convergint's Midwest presence and deepens its fire and life safety capabilities to better serve regional and global customers in Ohio.

Elevator Service LLC (ESI), backed by Greenwich-based family office Carroll Capital, acquired Toledo Elevator & Machine Co., Inc., the largest independent elevator service provider in Northwest Ohio. The add-on expands ESI’s platform into the Ohio and Detroit markets while retaining Toledo Elevator’s President Jason Gwin in his leadership role to support continued growth and service capability expansion.

MSD Partners has made a strategic investment in Woolpert in partnership with the company's management team, executing a recapitalization that results in exits for previous sponsors Long Point Capital and TriSpan. Woolpert, a Dayton, Ohio–headquartered architecture, engineering and geospatial (AEG) services firm with ~1,100 employees, will use the new capital to continue its growth and tuck‑in acquisition strategy.

Vortex Technology Group, a business unit of the Vortex Companies, has acquired Zia Systems, LLC to consolidate and rebrand curing-monitoring offerings under the VeriCure name. The deal brings Zia's CIPP (Cured-In-Place Pipe) thermal monitoring technology and customers into Vortex's product organization to standardize QA/QC, protect patents and expand field support for trenchless infrastructure rehabilitation.

CertTech, a Lenexa, Kansas-based provider of electronics and software test automation services, has acquired Butterfield Engineering, a Cincinnati-based test engineering firm specializing in modular test systems and test software. The acquisition expands CertTech's end-to-end test and integration capabilities across regulated industries including defense, aerospace, medical devices, automotive and ground transportation.

The Kleinfelder Group, a Wind Point Partners-backed engineering and professional services firm, has acquired Poggemeyer Design Group (PDG), a Bowling Green, Ohio-based design and engineering firm. The acquisition expands Kleinfelder's service capabilities — including surveying and water/wastewater services — and strengthens its footprint in the Midwest and Nevada while PDG's management will continue to lead operations.

Infosys has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kaleidoscope Innovation, a Cincinnati-based product design and development firm that serves medical, consumer and industrial markets. The acquisition expands Infosys' engineering services portfolio by adding upstream product innovation, human factors and medical device design capabilities to its global product engineering offerings.

Kohlberg & Company has acquired a majority stake in GPRS Holdings, LLC from CIVC Partners, with GPRS CEO Matt Aston and the management team remaining significant owners and CIVC retaining a meaningful stake. Headquartered in the Toledo area, GPRS is a leading provider of ground penetrating radar, utility locating and concrete scanning services across the U.S.; financial terms were not disclosed.