Materials handling firm Kion Group, the parent company of Linde forklifts, has acquired supply chain automation company Dematic.
The Kion Group was already one of the world’s largest suppliers of forklifts and warehouse equipment and the acquisition of Dematic allows the group to further cement its position.
Dematic’s product and systems portfolio ranges from automated guided vehicles (AGVs), palletisers, storage and picking equipment — including automated storage and retrieval systems, sorters and conveyors — to a software platform and automation technologies.
The company now boasts a comprehensive product range from Linde pallet trucks to fully automated Dematic warehouse and material handling solutions.
Kion Group says it aims to provide a “single-source solution” for customers, with the combined range covering virtually all options for most warehouse needs.
“With the acquisition of Dematic we are substantially changing and enhancing what Kion Group is and does, for further profitable growth in a quickly changing industry and digitalised world,” Kion Group CEO Gordon Riske says.
“We are becoming a unique provider of products, services and solutions,” he adds. “Like no other company in our industry, we can accompany every customer seamlessly on its journey to Industry 4.0 and Intralogistics 4.0 now and everywhere.”
Apart from Linde and Dematic, the Kion Group also contains the forklift and supply chain solution companies Fenwick, Still, OM Still, Baoli, Voltas and Egemin Automation.