Axyz International Acquires WardJet

Axyz International (Burlington, Ontario), a manufacturer of CNC router and CNC knife systems, has acquired WardJet, a firm that manufactures waterjet cutting machines and custom waterjet products.

“Axyz believes in providing localized sales and service support through our own offices. This ensures fast and reliable customer service,” says Axyz President Alf Zeuner, who will oversee the combined company as president. “We want to bring this same value to WardJet's customers.”

WardJet will continue to make products at its Tallmadge, Ohio, facility, with support from Axyz’s global network of sales and support offices. WardJet’s founder Richard Ward will retain the title of President, and he says he is looking forward to what’s next for the business he founded 23 years ago.

Axyz International was founded in 1991 and now has 13 offices in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, India and Poland, with plans to open additional offices. Like WardJet, it sells and provides services to end-user customers without a middleman.

According to Mr. Zeuner, waterjet technology complements Axyz’s technology. The company will retain all of WardJet’s existing infrastructure in both Ohio and Canada because the product lines are so different. With close to 100 WardJet employees joining the firm, Axyz International will employ around 250 people.

“We will have a much larger footprint in the [waterjet] industry overnight,” says Mr. Ward, noting that the far-reaching network, as well as a strong chemistry with Axyz, convinced him this was the best way to grow the company.