DiFACTO Robotics Acquires RoboFinish Division from Grind Master

DiFACTO Robotics and Automation Pvt. Ltd. announced the acquisition of intellectual property rights for RoboFinish operations from Grind Master, expanding its portfolio of manufacturing automation and robotics solutions. The transaction involves technologies developed over 14 years for robotic grinding, finishing, deburring, and machining applications.

Grind Master, an Aurangabad-based company founded by Milind Kelkar and Mohini Kelkar, has operated as a metal-finishing solutions provider for automotive and general engineering industries for four decades. The company holds more than 30 patents and has delivered over 150 RoboFinish solutions worldwide, establishing competition with Japanese and European industry players.

DiFACTO, established in 2007 by Ajay Gopalswamy, Yogesh Kumar, and Anil Satapathy, operates manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru and Pune, with a sales and service office in Gurugram. The company serves multiple industries including automotive, foundry, machine tools, transportation, electrical machinery, and consumer goods. DiFACTO maintains operations in North America through a wholly owned subsidiary based in Michigan.

The acquisition strengthens DiFACTO's position in robotic automation solutions, with backing from StakeBoat Capital, which invested in the company's initial financing round in June 2024. The transaction was facilitated by Singhi Advisors as the advisory firm.

"We pioneered breakthrough developments in robotic grinding and finishing operations, leveraging our profound domain knowledge," said Sameer Kelkar, CEO of Grind Master and developer of RoboFinish technologies. "We have successfully delivered over 150 RoboFinish solutions worldwide. We are confident that DiFACTO, a specialist in robotics and automation, will develop these technologies further and take them to a wider spectrum of customers."

Ajay Gopalaswamy, Founder and CEO of DiFACTO, emphasized the strategic value of the acquisition. "We are constantly seeking cutting-edge and globally competitive technologies," he stated. "The RoboFinish portfolio presents significant synergies with our existing offerings, strengthening our position in the market. DiFACTO will continue to support RoboFinish's existing users through its customer-focused engineering team."

Srinivas Baratam, Managing Director of StakeBoat Capital, highlighted the acquisition's role in DiFACTO's expansion strategy. "DiFACTO is a leading robotic automation solutions provider to Indian manufacturers across industry segments, and plans to aggressively expand into global markets," he noted. "Acquisition of RoboFinish technologies bolsters our solution offerings and further expands our global footprint."

The RoboFinish division encompasses robotic systems for surface finishing applications, representing technologies that Grind Master developed through sustained research and development efforts in manufacturing automation. DiFACTO plans to integrate these capabilities with its existing automation solutions while maintaining support for current RoboFinish users.