Crossing the Pond with Precision: Graham Partners Makes European Platform Investment in Smithstown
July 31st, 2025
PHILADELPHIA
Acquires Ireland-Headquartered Medical Device Contract Manufacturer
Graham Partners (“Graham”), a private investment firm targeting advanced manufacturing companies, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Smithstown Light Engineering (“SLE”). Headquartered in Shannon, Ireland, SLE is a medical device manufacturer specializing in highly engineered, machined components and sub-assemblies for orthopedic, endoscopic, vascular, and neurological surgical applications, among others, that demand precision and reliability. The company leverages a suite of vertically integrated capabilities to provide end-to-end manufacturing solutions — from early-stage design to full-scale production — to medical device customers globally.
At a macro level, the medical device sector has seen strong growth due to the ongoing shifts toward disposable medical products and minimally invasive surgeries, both of which are improving patient outcomes, as well as an aging population that is living longer as a result of these and other medical advancements. This growth is driving medical device companies to increasingly partner with organizations, such as SLE, that have deep manufacturing and engineering expertise, to streamline their supply chains, enabling a quicker and more cost-effective path to market for life-saving medical products.
Founded over 50 years ago, SLE differentiates itself as a next-generation leader in precision machining (metal, polymer, and additive) for the medical device industry through its state-of-the-art facilities — two in Ireland and one in Poland — and engineering-centric culture focused on providing customers innovative solutions for their most complex manufacturing needs. The company also benefits from strong diversification across product categories and surgical applications, serving a global customer base of leading medical device companies.
Graham Partners has prior experience partnering with outsourced medical device manufacturing companies through its investments in Velosity and Medbio and believes it can leverage this experience with SLE. Joe Heinmiller, Managing Partner at Graham Partners, stated, “We have been tracking the outsourced medical device manufacturing space for over a decade and have conviction that SLE is well-positioned for future growth due to its differentiated manufacturing capabilities, operational expertise, and new product development capabilities.” Megan Barsella, Vice President at Graham Partners, added, “Graham is deeply committed to partnering with family-owned businesses and is excited to support SLE on this next phase of its journey.”
Graham Partners is a private investment firm focused on investing in technology-driven companies that are spurring innovation in advanced manufacturing, resulting in product substitutions, raw materials conversions, and disruptions to traditional end markets. Graham Partners can offer control or minority capital solutions and typically targets companies with EBITDA up to $50 million. Since the firm’s founding in 1988 by Steven Graham, Graham Partners has closed over 160 acquisitions, joint ventures, financings, and divestitures. The committed capital raised since inception through the Graham Partners funds together with Graham-led co-investments totals approximately $6.8 billion as of March 31, 2025, which differs from Graham’s Regulatory Assets Under Management of approximately $4.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. Investors include high-net-worth individuals, college and university endowments, foundations, pension plans, insurance companies, funds-of-funds, and other institutional investors. Based in suburban Philadelphia, the firm has access to extensive operating resources and industrial expertise and is a member of The Graham Group, an alliance of independent operating businesses, investment firms and philanthropic entities, which all share in the common legacy of entrepreneur Donald Graham.
Headquartered in Shannon, Ireland, SLE is a medical-focused manufacturer specializing in highly engineered machined components (metal, polymer, and additive) and sub-assemblies. SLE was founded in 1974 as a specialty design and molding shop and has developed into a trusted contract manufacturer, delivering precision medical devices to customers globally. The company operates out of three total facilities (two in Ireland & one in Poland).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Joe Heinmiller (jheinmiller@grahampartners.net)
Christina Morin (cmorin@grahampartners.net)
Tel: (610) 408-0500
www.grahampartners.net
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