Consolidation continues in the world of integrated materials handling solutions, services and equipment - including automated guided vehicles (AGVs).
Dematic Holding Sàrl, based in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, has agreed in principle to purchase HK Systems Inc of New Berlin, Wisconsin. Terms were not disclosed.
In late July, Cimcorp Oy of Ulvila, Finland acquired RMT Robotics Ltd of Grimsby, Ontario, Canada. Cimcorp retains the entity's name and operates RMT as a subsidiary. Terms were not disclosed.
In an earlier deal, Intelligrated Inc of Mason, Ohio purchased FKI Logistex's western hemisphere operations from investor Melrose plc of London.
Within the materials handling community, robotic technology is playing a growing role for these competitors.
Ongoing developments involve new generations of increasingly more sophisticated AGVs, laser-guided vehicles and self-guided vehicles.
Completion of the Dematic-HK deal is expected during 2010's third quarter. Dematic disclosed the agreement on 4 August. Dematic has production and management sites in Europe, China, Australia and the US, employs more than 3,000 persons and had 2009 sales exceeding EUR 700 million (USD1.003 billion).
HK Systems, particularly within North America, is a provider of automated material handling equipment and supply chain execution software. HK develops, implements and supports integrated solutions for management of enterprise-wide inventory, distribution, logistics management and automated material handling systems.
In the Cimcorp-RMT deal, RMT founder and President Doug Pickard acquired a 20% interest in Cimcorp and became a Cimcorp director. RMT Robotics engineers, manufactures and installs integrated solutions for materials handling including the latest in fully autonomous intelligent AGVs and robotic gantry systems.
On 12 August, RMT Robotics launched its autonomous delivery and manipulation (Adam brand) system for use in lean manufacturing operations, and on 24 August, RMT says Hanwha Corporation's factory automation division ordered a fleet of Adam-brand intelligent AGVs for a US-based smart battery manufacturer seeking more automated technology. Deliveries are scheduled during 2010's fourth quarter.
The Intelligrated-FKI transaction in June 2009 renewed certain relationships for Intelligrated Chief Executive Officer Chris Cole and President and Chief Operating Officer Jim McCarthy and strengthened Intelligrated's distribution network.
Cole and McCarthy founded Intelligrated in 2001 following the sale of their former company Pinnacle Automation and its subsidiary brands Alvey, Buschman Conveyors, Mathews Conveyor, Real Time Solutions and White Systems to FKI plc, an engineering conglomerate in Loughborough, England. Melrose acquired control of FKI in 2008.
Intelligrated owners include key company managers, Gryphon Investors of San Francisco and Boston-based Tudor Investment Corporation's venture capital and private equity arm.
Separately, on 16 August, Intelligrated began offering an upgrade program for North American installations of its IntelliSort, FKI Logistex, Unisort, Crisplant, Mathews and Buschman brand equipment. The encouragement of upgrading-rather than replacing-equipment was not explained.
"Materials handling technology keeps advancing over time," says Dennis Gates, Intelligrated senior vice president for customer service and support. "Many facilities are facing changes in production requirements, including capacity, throughput and product variations but are limited by ageing sortation equipment."
Improvements may involve replacing obsolete components, installing advanced functionality to meet changing product needs, expansion or overhauling machinery.