November 1, 2016, Chicago – Akoya is excited to announce it has teamed with Tim Gardner as its new Industrial Products Sector Leader.

Tim Gardner, Akoya’s Industrial Products Sector Leader, has almost 40 years of experience in the industrial products industry with a proven track record of increasing revenue and expanding margins across mid-size to large businesses.  Tim is a former Executive Vice President of Illinois Tool Works Inc., a global diversified industrial manufacturer of value added consumables and specialty equipment used in the automotive, food/beverage, construction and paper industries.  Tim led the Consumer Products Segment of ITW, growing the business organically and through strategic acquisitions.  Tim’s early career includes leadership roles with Clarcor and Continental Can Company.

Akoya has completed 11 platform investments and 9 add-ons across its portfolio in the last 5 years and is excited to announce the sale of its portfolio company Safety Products Group (“SPG”) to Trachtel, a portfolio company of Cinven, a European private equity firm.  In 2012, along with its investment partners Gemini Investors and TMW Enterprises, Akoya purchased FabEnco, a manufacturer of self-closing safety gates for ladder, stair, and platform openings and merged it in 2013 with BlueWater Manufacturing, a leading provider of pre-engineered, modular rooftop safety systems.  SPG addresses the needs of the fast growing workplace safety industry and is the second  successful exit for Akoya in the last 12 months.

Seeking platform investments in industrial products

Akoya is interested in pursuing a wide range of businesses within Industrial Products but Tim will have particular interest in the following segments:

• Packaging Machinery & Processing Technologies
• Promotional Packaging Manufacturers
• Adhesive Application Systems
• Specialized Decorating Solutions
• Test & Measurement
• Specialty Fasteners
• Advanced Dispensing Systems


Ideal target company characteristics:

• $20 million to $100 million of sales
• $3 million+ of EBITDA
• Strong niche position in a growing market
• Technology that provides product differentiation/above average growth
• Family held, owner/operator run, corporate carve-outs
• Management that wants to remain with the business and reinvestment

About Akoya

Akoya Capital is a sector focused investment firm that creates and nurtures partnerships between management and capital. With industry leading sector leaders, proprietary platform organizations, experienced management teams and co-investors, we collaborate on compelling value creation opportunities. Together, we develop and execute industry sector acquisition strategies that deliver significant, measurable value for management, partners and shareholders.

We will consider smaller companies on a selective basis or as an add-on acquisition. In addition to Industrial Products, Akoya seeks investment opportunities in the following sectors:

• Specialty Chemicals
• Industrial Distribution
• Consumer Foods/Products
• Professional Information Services

Contact Us

If you know of a company that fits this profile, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss it with you.
Please contact Jason Apple at 312-546-8301 (japple@akoyacapital.com).