Zoetis Inc. announced July 30 an agreement to acquire KL Products Inc. to strengthen its automation technology for poultry hatchery operations. The privately held KL Products, based in London, Ont., is a leader in automation systems for the poultry industry.

Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition enables Zoetis to provide poultry industry customers with full automation solutions for hatchery operations, complementing its Embrex in ovo vaccine delivery systems.

“In the highly integrated global poultry industry, hatcheries are seeking ways to provide healthy, vaccinated chicks while increasing operational efficiencies,” said Steven Clarken, Zoetis vice president and general manager, global biodevices. “This allows Zoetis to deliver tailored solutions that tightly integrate use of our Embrex BioDevice technology for efficacious and efficient in ovo vaccination with broader automation technology across hatchery operations.”

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Zoetis has utilized in ovo vaccination in the poultry industry for more than two decades with its Embrex BioDevice technology, which helps assure reliable, safe vaccine delivery to every embryo.

“KL Products' portfolio and capabilities complement Zoetis' offerings and allow Zoetis to fulfill poultry customers' animal health needs while providing increased efficiency across virtually every aspect of hatchery operations,” said KL Products president Patrick Poulin, who will join Zoetis as director, automation solutions.

“The transaction is aligned with our value creation strategy to invest in complementary areas and technologies,” said Alejandro Bernal, Zoetis group president who oversees the strategy, commercial and business development organization and the global biodevices business.

Zoetis is a leading animal health company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets veterinary vaccines and medicines, complemented by diagnostic products and genetic tests and supported by a range of services.