Nikon Sells MRMC to Investment Firm Blandford Capital After Nearly a Decade of Ownership

Industry NewsMotion Control News

by Johnnie BehiriApril 7^th, 2026

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Nikon has confirmed it is divesting Mark Roberts Motion Control (MRMC), the UK-based robotic camera systems company it has owned since 2016, transferring all shares to MRMC Bidco Limited, a vehicle established by UK investment firm Blandford Capital LLP. The move comes as Nikon refocuses its business portfolio, and arrives as MRMC marks its 60th year in operation.

The announcement signals a significant structural shift for one of the filmmaking industry’s most recognizable names in motion control. MRMC, headquartered in Surrey, United Kingdom, designs, manufactures, and rents robotic camera systems used across high-end film, broadcast, live sports, and virtual production. Its product lineup includes the iconic Milo and Super Milo dolly-jib systems, the Bolt and Bolt Mini Model Mover high-speed robot arms, and the more recently introduced Cinebot series, which we have covered extensively at CineD.

Why Nikon is letting go of MRMC

Nikon acquired 100% of MRMC’s shares in October 2016, with the intention of combining MRMC’s precision robotics expertise with Nikon’s own imaging technology and global sales infrastructure. For nearly a decade, the two companies operated in parallel, with MRMC retaining a degree of independence while sitting within the broader Nikon Group structure.

The rationale for the divestiture is characteristically brief in Nikon’s official communication: the company states it has “reconsidered its business portfolio” and determined that the transfer is “the most appropriate course of action.” No financial terms have been disclosed, and no completion date has been specified.

The timing is notable. In 2024, Nikon completed its acquisition of RED, the American cinema camera manufacturer, repositioning itself more aggressively within the digital cinema market. With RED now integrated into its portfolio, Nikon’s ownership of a robotic camera systems company may have felt less strategically central than it once did. The original synergy case for the MRMC acquisition revolved around pairing motion control solutions with Nikon’s mirrorless stills cameras, but that convergence never fully materialized at a production level. MRMC’s systems have always been more closely tied to cinema, broadcast, and high-end commercial production workflows than to Nikon’s core mirrorless business.

Who is Blandford Capital?

The incoming owner, Blandford Capital LLP, is a UK-based investment firm registered in Poole, Dorset. According to publicly available information on its website, the firm positions itself as a partner for companies navigating “special situations,” offering equity and debt solutions and working alongside incumbent management teams. It describes itself as sector-agnostic, and MRMC does not appear to align with any prior creative industry investment on the firm’s publicly visible portfolio.

The newly created acquisition vehicle, MRMC Bidco Limited, is registered at the same Dorset address as Blandford Capital. The structure is a standard private equity acquisition arrangement. Takuei Tsuji, who currently serves as Director, CEO, and COO of MRMC, is named in the official transfer documentation, and there is no indication of a leadership change at this stage.

What this means for MRMC’s product lines and customers

From a customer-facing standpoint, it is too early to assess what operational changes, if any, will follow the ownership transfer. MRMC’s product roadmap, service infrastructure, and the Flair motion control software platform that underpins all of its systems remain unchanged as far as current public information indicates.

What is clear is that MRMC enters this new chapter at a symbolically significant moment. The company, which traces its roots back to 1966 and has been building robotic camera systems since the early 1990s, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The company is scheduled to appear at NAB Show 2026 with its own stand, presenting as an independent entity for the first time since 2016. Its most recent product launches, including the Cinebot Nano introduced at IBC 2025 and the Super Milo revealed in 2024, demonstrate that MRMC has continued developing its lineup throughout its time under Nikon ownership.

The broader context matters here. Motion control as a category has been experiencing renewed interest, driven by virtual production pipelines, LED volume work, and the demand for precise, repeatable camera movement in high-end commercial and episodic productions. MRMC is well-positioned within that market, and the question now is whether Blandford Capital will invest in accelerating growth, or whether this is primarily a financial restructuring play.

Nikon’s decision to exit MRMC while doubling down on RED raises interesting questions about the long-term direction of its professional video strategy. Whether MRMC will continue to thrive as an independent entity under new financial ownership remains to be seen. What do you make of this ownership change, and what would you like to see from MRMC going forward? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!