Konecranes buys the rest of DCS
Hyvinkää, Finland
Konecranes has acquired the remaining 80.5% of Dynamic Crane Systems Ltd (DCS)'s share capital.

In June 2007, Konecranes acquired 19.5% of the South African crane and service company's shares with an option to acquire the rest by the end of this year.

DCS, established in 1994, specialises in the manufacture, sales, servicing and assembly of industrial process cranes. Konecranes and DCS have worked together since the early 1990s and in June 2007, DCS was Konecranes' representative in South Africa and its neighbouring countries.

"Not only is South Africa itself an important economy, it is also an excellent gateway to other African markets," says Pierre Boyer, Konecranes' president of the EMEA region.

The company name will be changed to Konecranes (Pty) Ltd and the former owners will work for the company on a consultative basis.

DCS had annual sales of about EUR8 million (USD11.98 million) in 2008 and 75 employees.

Jungheinrich acquires stake in software company
Hamburg, Germany
Jungheinrich AG has acquired a stake in ISA-Innovative Systemlösungen für die Automation GmbH, a software company specialising in warehousing and material flow management.

Hans-Georg Frey, chairman of Jungheinrich's board of management, says the company wants to increase its software expertise in logistics systems through its investment in Austria-based ISA.

"We are investing in a promising, fast-growing field of business, even in times of economic crisis," he says.

ISA managing director Markus Sammer says the combination of his company's specialised intra-logistics solutions and Jungheinrich's global sales network will result in "bright common prospects".

Headquartered in Graz, Austria, ISA employs 50 people. It will continue to be run by its existing managing shareholders. Jungheinrich and ISA have already carried out a large number of joint projects. According to Jungheinrich management, the forklift manufacturer will be more heavily involved in ISA in the future.

Brookfield buys PD Port
Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
Canadian-based Brookfield Asset Management has acquired UK ports and logistics business PD Ports from its owner, Babcock & Brown Infrastructure (BBI), for an undisclosed sum.

PD Ports' Group CEO David Robinson says the company now has a new financial structure, which will support its future growth and development. "We very much look forward to working with Brookfield and welcome the positive influence it will have over the longer term ambitions of PD Ports."

The acquisition represents Brookfield's first foray into ports. It has formed a new holding company, Brookfield Ports (UK) Ltd, to complete the purchase of PD Ports. BBI has owned PD Ports since 2006.

PD Ports is a specialist ports and logistics business that offers supply chain services to improve customers' product and material movements into, out of and within the UK. It employs over 1,140 staff and has an annual turnover of about GBP120 million (USD199.3 million). Its operations in the UK include Teesport, Humberside and Felixstowe.