News Releases

08/19/2024

Flexware Innovation Accelerates Life Science Focus with Acquisition of Castle Hill Technologies

INDIANAPOLIS and TOKYO, Aug. 19, 2024 - Flexware Innovation, LLC ("Flexware"), a Hitachi group company, today announced that on July 31, 2024 it acquired Castle Hill Technologies, LLC ("Castle Hill") which has been a leading engineering services company since 1999. Castle Hill was a strategic acquisition for Flexware due to their focus on being a customer advocate and in accelerating to connect between "shop floor" and "top floor" with data and digital technology centered on Lumada^*1.

With this acquisition of Castle Hill, Flexware will strengthen and enhance its Life Science focus as well as expand its business operations significantly in the North Carolina area. Castle Hill adds deep experience in process automation, owner’s rep services^*2, validation, large project management, and compliments all of Flexware’s teams.

The Strategy Behind the Castle Hill Technologies Acquisition
Many technical firms in the manufacturing and industrial sectors often limit their focus to specific industries or the controls and machinery layers. Castle Hill distinguishes itself by concentrating on overarching strategies and comprehensive plans for leading manufacturers' facility build-outs. Since its inception in 1999, Castle Hill has consistently proven its ability to add value to companies specialized in Life Sciences.

Castle Hill is dedicated to providing premier owner’s representative services, validation services, system integration and data solutions to accelerate digital transformation. Their capabilities span from process and automation design to engineering and safety assessments. Castle Hill has established itself as a leader in delivering secure, efficient, and scalable solutions.

Flexware will leverage Castle Hill’s extensive expertise to complement the capabilities of JR Automation^*3 and Flexware. This partnership is driven by a shared commitment to enhancing the capabilities and support for Castle Hill’s existing customer base, which includes notable global brands. The synergy between Flexware and Castle Hill underscores a strategic alignment aimed at continued growth and innovation.

"I am very happy to have Castle Hill Technologies as a new family member of the Flexware Innovation team. Moving forward, we will strive to solve customers' challenges and maximize their corporate value through the combination of Flexware Innovation's solutions, the engineering consulting capability of Castle Hill Technologies, and the extreme engineering and line-building capability of JR Automation*3." said Scott Whitlock, CEO Flexware.

"Our people are passionate about solving problems for our customers. This new partnership with Flexware Innovation will allow us to do that on a larger stage, with strong vision and backing from a respected global technology company. We have developed a unique culture at Castle Hill Technologies that merges perfectly with Flexware Innovation's culture. I am genuinely excited for our future together." - Robin Lowery, President of Castle Hill.

Lowery will remain at the helm of Castle Hill and work in partnership with the leaders of Flexware.

Outline of Castle Hill Technologies
Name	Castle Hill Technologies
Head Office	Garner, NC
Representative	Robin Lowery (President)
Outline of Business	Owners Representative Service, Project Management, System Integration, Validation
Founded	1999
Website	http://castlehilltech.com/

^*1 Lumada: A collective term for solutions, services and technologies using Hitachi's advanced digital technologies to generate value from customer data and accelerate digital innovation

^*2 Owner’s rep services: Castle Hill distinguishes itself with a broad focus on strategic solutions and comprehensive plans for the manufacturing sector. This is best illustrated when Castle Hill becomes an extension of a company’s design, planning and execution around new and updated facility buildouts. This is commonly referred to as being an “owners’ representative” where they are overseeing all aspects from design to delivery of a project on a company’s behalf.

^*3 JR Automation: Established in 1980, JR Automation is a leading provider of intelligent automated manufacturing technology solutions that solve customers’ key operational and productivity challenges. JR Automation serves customers across the globe in a variety of industries, including automotive, life sciences, aerospace, and more. In 2019, JR Automation was acquired by Hitachi, Ltd.

For more information on Flexware Innovation, please visit the company's website at https://www.flexwareinnovation.com.

Founded in 1996, Flexware Innovation is a premier provider of manufacturing and information technology solutions that address the critical operational and productivity challenges faced by modern enterprises. Serving a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, life sciences, utilities, and food and beverage, Flexware offers tailored solutions in automation, manufacturing IT, business intelligence, and enterprise integration. By focusing on both physical and digital solutions, Flexware helps clients achieve seamless integration and optimal performance in their operations, driving efficiency and innovation.

In 2022, Flexware Innovation was acquired by Hitachi, Ltd., significantly expanding its global footprint and capabilities. This acquisition allowed Flexware to support Hitachi’s Lumada*1 Strategy, addressing challenges at the intersections of the shop floor, top floor, and supply chain, and enabling the creation of new business value. Headquartered in Fishers, Indiana, Flexware Innovation maintains a robust presence with additional offices in the United States and a dedicated team of over 200 skilled professionals. Committed to excellence and continuous improvement, Flexware Innovation partners with clients to help them navigate the complexities of Industry 4.0 and beyond, ensuring they remain competitive in an ever-evolving market.

Hitachi drives Social Innovation Business, creating a sustainable society through the use of data and technology. We solve customers' and society's challenges with Lumada*1 solutions leveraging IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products. Hitachi operates under the 3 business sectors of “Digital Systems & Services” – supporting our customers’ digital transformation; “Green Energy & Mobility” – contributing to a decarbonized society through energy and railway systems, and “Connective Industries” – connecting products through digital technology to provide solutions in various industries. Driven by Digital, Green, and Innovation, we aim for growth through co-creation with our customers. The company’s revenues as 3 sectors for fiscal year 2023 (ended March 31, 2024) totaled 8,564.3 billion yen, with 573 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 270,000 employees worldwide. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.