BRIEFS

Distributor

Acquires

Johnson

City

Competitor

Knoxville-based Machine Automation Inc. has acquired Cherokee Technical Inc. of Johnson City in a move that will give the factory automation product distributor a branch office in the Tri-Cities.Machine Automation, located at 5905 Weisbrook Lane off Weisgarber Road, grows to two locations and eight employees with the purchase, said Mike Messer, president and chief executive officer.

Messer said two Cherokee employees will join his company and the Cherokee Technical name will be changed to Machine Automation in the next few months. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.