Editor Allan Leibowitz comments on the news of the week

Last week, we reported on our discussions with forklift sector leaders about the impact of Industry 4.0, and heard from most that it represents an opportunity for collaboration and expansion rather than a threat to traditional suppliers. This week, we see evidence of that collaborative potential, with KION's purchase of automation provider Dematic. This, of course, isn't KION's first acquisition in related business fields. Its purchases last year of Egemin Automation and Retrotech show its growing interest in logistics automation. Watch this space for future collaborations as it becomes increasingly clear that businesses whose primary activity is "moving big stuff" will face increasing competition and those who look more broadly at their role in the supply chain and logistics spectrum will find expanded opportunities and greater synergies.