Adept Founders Launch Automation Business

LOS ALTOS, Calif., May 12 -- The founders of Adept Technology, a Livermore manufacturer of robotic systems, motion control and machine vision technology, have started a new automation company, Precise Automation, after leaving Adept in December.

Brian Carlisle and Bruce Shimano, Adept's former CEO and vice president of research and development, respectively, said Precise Automation is developing vision-guided robotic motion controllers with integrated motor drives for robots and other multi-axis precision machines in the electronics, semiconductor and life sciences industries, and a series of new mechanisms for material handling and assembly in the life sciences and electronics industries. They said the company will begin delivering products early next year.

Carlisle and Shimano founded Adept Technology In 1983. Previously, they were instrumental in developing the Puma precision assembly robot. Puma is a trademark of Staubli AG.

Precise Automation is located at 727 Filip Road, Los Altos, CA 94024.

Adept Technology announced today that Lee Blake has joined its executive management team as vice president and general manager of Adept Service. The company said Blake's appointment reinforces its organizational plan to aggressively focus on the needs of its customers' product and service requirements. Blake will oversee worldwide service and support activities for all of Adept's product lines.

Blake was formerly vice president of product development and management at Newport Corp., in Irvine.

In another announcement this week, Chad Industries Inc., a factory automation company in Orange, said it has returned to the market as an independent solutions supplier. Chad was acquired by Adept Technology in 2001 and continued operations as Adept Orange County. The employees at Orange County executed a buyout from Adept in March and now operate under the original name, Chad Industries, as an independent company.

Scott Klimczak, president of Chad Industries, said the company will continue to provide semiconductor wafer handling cells, electronic odd-form and mechanical assembly and liquid handling solutions to Adept's customers, and that it has retained its key management and technical team.

For more information, visit: www.preciseautomation.com