Colfax

Acquisitions, acquisitions, and more acquisitions is how this global manufacturer of welding and fabrication products gets ahead. Since 2011, Colfax has acquired six companies worth more than $3.9 billion and has seen its revenue grow fivefold from $693.4 million in 2011 to $4.2 billion in 2013.

Its most recent acquisition of welding product supplier Soldex for $235 million will allow Colfax to expand into emerging South American markets. The company currently has about 40 production facilities in 20 countries around the world.

Net sales for the second quarter of 2014 were $1.2 billion, an increase of 12% compared to the previous year.