In some sectors, recent takeover activity has been aimed at growing marketshare by taking out a competitor. But in materials handling, we seem to see more of a value-adding approach, with mergers, acquisitions and alliances aimed at broadening the service offering or extending the range.
In that vein is the announcement this week that TVH will be taking over the service and parts activities of Italian controller maker SME.
And then there's Impact Handling's purchase of Western Mechanical Handling, which will extend the Cat Lift network into the South West of the UK.
No doubt, there will be more such deals as the year unfolds.