IMA Group Sells Majority Stake to Focus on Core Pharmaceutical Business
Italian automated electric motor equipment manufacturer ATOP will transfer its majority stake to Austrian investment firm Lichtenberg Capital. On July 21, IMA Group announced it had reached an agreement with Lichtenberg Capital to sell its majority stake in ATOP, located in Barberino Val d’Elsa, Tuscany. IMA will remain a minority shareholder and continue as an industrial partner.
Founded in 1993, ATOP specializes in automated production lines and winding equipment for electric motor stators and rotors. The company currently employs 135 people and holds over 680 patents worldwide. As a leading provider of automated production technology for electric vehicle motors, ATOP serves international OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, primarily in electric vehicle drivetrain applications.
IMA Group acquired a majority stake in ATOP in 2019, playing a decisive role in its industrialization and international expansion. Alberto Vacchi, Chairman and CEO of IMA Group, stated that the divestment aligns with the Group’s strategic plan to concentrate resources on its core pharmaceutical business. He emphasized that IMA will continue to support ATOP’s development through its industrial network and technical resources, while Lichtenberg Capital, with its transformation expertise, will assume operational leadership.
ATOP’s Advanced Technology Expands Electric Vehicle Market Presence
ATOP was among the first to industrialize hairpin winding technology for electric traction motors. This technology replaces traditional round wires with rectangular copper bars, using automated bending, insertion, and welding processes to increase copper fill rates in stator slots, reduce electrical resistance, and improve heat dissipation. The method is widely adopted in electric vehicle drivetrains. In addition to hairpin winding, ATOP’s product portfolio includes coil winding, flyer winding, needle winding, spindle winding, single-pole winding, and permanent magnet assembly, covering multiple automated manufacturing processes.
Lichtenberg Capital and IMA Group share a clear objective for their partnership: to expand ATOP’s product lines and customer base in the electric vehicle and adjacent markets in anticipation of expected growth in e-mobility investment. ATOP highlighted that its technologies are already utilized by international OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers and will continue to enhance automated solutions to meet the evolving performance demands of electric vehicle motors.
The change in ownership will not affect ATOP’s existing operations or production capacity, with its headquarters and manufacturing facilities remaining in Tuscany, Italy. Lichtenberg Capital’s acquisition of the majority stake through its funds demonstrates long-term confidence in the electric vehicle supply chain. IMA Group stated that the transaction will streamline its investment portfolio, allowing it to further concentrate on core sectors such as pharmaceuticals.
