Project Farma to acquire SimoTech to expand GMP automation services

Project Farma said Tuesday it has agreed to buy SimoTech, adding automation and GMP IT capabilities to its manufacturing services platform for life sciences customers. The deal is designed to create a more complete end-to-end offering for biopharma manufacturers, from project planning through ongoing operations, pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions.

Why it matters: - The deal combines Project Farma’s CQV, project delivery, quality, and compliance work with SimoTech’s automation and digital manufacturing tools. - The expanded platform is aimed at helping life sciences companies move from planning to operational readiness faster. - The combination targets manufacturers that need regulated production systems for life-saving treatments and novel therapies.

What happened: - Project Farma entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SimoTech. - The announcement was made Aug. 11, 2026. - Project Farma is PerkinElmer’s GMP manufacturing services provider. - SimoTech is a manufacturing automation and GMP IT solutions provider for the life sciences industry. - Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The details: - SimoTech was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Cork, Ireland. - SimoTech is the largest Irish-owned automation and manufacturing IT company. - SimoTech serves 10 of the top 20 global pharma and biotech manufacturers. - SimoTech works on DCS, MES, SCADA, PLC, data historians, and GMP IT systems. - Project Farma’s capabilities include facility commissioning, qualification and validation, project management, scheduling and controls, and quality, regulatory and compliance. - Together, the two businesses say they can offer an end-to-end solution from strategic planning and project execution to operational readiness and ongoing operations. - Project Farma said the acquisition is the latest step in expanding its manufacturing and engineering solutions platform. - Rich Tree, Project Farma president, said SimoTech’s capabilities fit naturally with Project Farma’s platform. - Pat Desmond, SimoTech chief executive officer, said the acquisition gives SimoTech greater global reach, commercial infrastructure, and resources. - SimoTech’s customer teams, relationships, and ways of working will continue unchanged. - Existing customers are expected to keep working with the same support teams. - The transaction is expected to close after customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. - Project Farma provides services across the capital project, manufacturing, and facility lifecycle. - Project Farma says it supports pharma and biotech companies across biologics and novel modalities. - PerkinElmer acquired Project Farma in 2025 to serve as its pharma manufacturing services platform. - PerkinElmer has been backed by New Mountain Capital since 2023. - Project Farma’s more complete offering is centered on helping customers accelerate manufacturing of life-saving treatments. - SimoTech says its work is focused on fast-track project delivery, operational efficiency, manufacturing agility, and regulatory compliance.

Between the lines: - The acquisition fits a broader push toward bundled services in life sciences, where customers often want one partner for engineering, automation, validation, and digital systems. - The move also extends Project Farma beyond traditional CQV and project execution into the operational technology layer that runs modern manufacturing sites. - Keeping SimoTech’s teams and customer relationships in place signals continuity as much as integration.

What's next: - The deal will close once regulatory approvals and other customary conditions are satisfied. - After closing, Project Farma is likely to market a broader global manufacturing services platform to pharma and biotech customers. - Existing SimoTech customers will continue receiving support from their current teams during the transition.

The bottom line: - Project Farma is buying more than automation expertise; it is building a fuller life sciences manufacturing stack that spans planning, delivery, validation, and operations.