Luxembourg — Dematic, a leading global supplier of integrated material handling solutions and services, announces it has signed an agreement in principle to purchase HK Systems, a North American automated material handling and software solutions provider. The transaction is expected to close sometime in the third quarter of 2010.
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Complementary Expertise delivers more value to customers
The Dematic and HK Systems merger will result in a stronger and more responsive company providing added value and expanded solution portfolios for customers. The merger will leverage the complementary technical strength of both companies to bring high performance solutions to market.
“With the addition of HK Systems and its highly complementary market focus, Dematic will be able to provide customers throughout the world an enhanced solutions offering. We can now leverage our respective expertise and experience in serving the supply chain logistics market not only in North America but globally, to deliver added value to both existing and potential customers”, said Roar Isaksen, President and CEO of Dematic Group.
Both companies have a strong heritage for delivering value and both have long-standing expertise in designing, delivering and supporting comprehensive material flow solutions. The combined product portfolios and solution sets will offer customers a wider range of state-of-the-art material handling systems and services. Also, the combined companies will be able to provide an end to end solution footprint for a wider variety of market sectors from manufacturing to distribution.
“Customers are calling for integrated solutions that enable them to move products and information fast, reliably and efficiently through the supply chain”, said John Baysore, President and CEO of Dematic North America. “By combining the passion, creativity and technology of two synergistic companies, we will continue to drive innovations that help customers optimize their production and distribution operations.”
Leveraging the two organizations
Beyond the comprehensive technology, the acquisition will bring together the global engineering talent, customer focus and project execution expertise of two highly skilled teams. The two companies share a common vision and business strategy committed to delivering logistics solutions with a strong return on investment for customers.
“This merger is a great opportunity for the employees of HK Systems to become part of a worldwide corporation. HK Systems’ logistics capabilities and integration strength will give the joint organization expanded opportunities to grow in new vertical markets in North America and beyond,” said John Splude, Executive Chairman of HK Systems.
The acquisition, which is expected to close in the third quarter of 2010, is subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals from relevant authorities in the United States.
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About Dematic
Dematic is a global leader providing an impressive range of intelligent logistics and materials handling solutions. With a global knowledge network of more than 3000 highly skilled logistics professionals, Dematic is able to provide its customers a unique perspective in world class materials handling solution design. Our commitment to product and solution R&D combined with manufacturing plants in the US, Europe, China and Australia ensures Dematic has the range and capability to provide reliable, flexible, cost effective solutions globally. Our tremendous track record of success has led to the development and implementation of more than 4000 world class integrated systems for a customer base including some of the world’s biggest companies. Dematic currently generates a global business volume of around 700 million Euros (around 1 billion US $).
For more information please visit www.dematic.com.
About HK Systems
Addressing the synchronized flow of material and information throughout a company’s network, HK Systems develops, deploys, and maintains innovative solutions that improve customer service, reduce inventory and delivery time, and lower overall costs of manufacturing, distribution, and transportation.
HK Systems’ comprehensive product and service offerings include Solution Design, Solution Delivery including automated storage and retrieval systems, automated guided vehicles, conveyance, sortation, customer services, RFID solutions, and logistics software and Solution Support.
For more information please visit www.hksystems.com.
