Modern Materials Handling - April 2011

More documents

Recommendations

Info

modern special reportThe top five systems suppliers reported combined 2010 revenue of more than $6.83 billion, up 3.3% over 2009.that order intake has increased favorablyand is expected to positively affectupcoming sales revenues.Making Modern’s listOn the plus sideHaving a positive effect on its bottomline was No. 2 Daifuku’s strategicmaneuver last October to take on acapital stake in Knapp with the acquisitionfrom its current management teamof approximately 6% of total shares outstanding.This deal is credited with havinga positive, albeit fairly slight, impacton Daifuku’s year-end results.Also having a positive effect on thebottom line was Dematic’s acquisitionof HK Systems, which was finalizedin September of 2010. HK Systems,a North American automated materialshandling and software solutionsprovider, was No. 17 on Modern’s Top20 ranking last year with $200 millionin revenue. The purchase explains, inpart, Dematic’s 20% jump in revenue.Kardex Remstar International alsosaw an increase in revenue with thepurchase of its United States competitorKardex Systems. With the dealsealed and the two entities now reportingtogether under one managementteam, Kardex Remstar, as it is nowknown, has moved up two positionsfrom No. 10 into the No. 8 spot.The Fives Group, headquartered inParis, also climbed the chart thanks toan 11% increase in revenue that movedthe company up four positions fromNo. 13 to No. 9.To qualify for Modern’s list, companiesmust be suppliers of materialshandling systems, not just equipmentproviders. In addition to manufacturingat least two major handlingsystem components, a companymust also employ full-time staffthat designs, installs and integratesmaterials handling systems.These systems include at leasttwo of the following: transportationdevices, storage and staging equipment,picking units, sortation systems,information management systems,data capture technologies andother types of handling equipment.To be considered worldwidesuppliers, companies must havea presence in North America andmust also be able to report theirmaterials handling revenues toModern. (Lockheed Martin, forexample, is a systems supplier with aNorth American presence, but isn’tincluded in our Top 20 list becausethey can’t single out the revenuethat comes from materials handlingcontracts.)Intelligrated has broken into thetop 10, at No. 10. Contributing to itsupward movement is its recent purchaseof FKI Logistex. Last year’s totalrevenue reflects about six months ofreporting as Intelligrated alone andsix months of reporting as a fully integratedcompany.Another notable business maneuverwas the acquisition of the New Yorkbasedengineering services companyRetrotech by Chicago-based Savoye,which is a division of No. 11 LegrisIndustries. But because this deal happenedin February of 2011, the financialimpact will not be noted until next year.We’ll also have to wait for an officialrevenue figure from InterlakeMecalux. At the time Modern went topress, Interlake Mecalux did not havean approved number to report, so we areusing the best information available to usat the time. Our estimate has the companyholding on to the No. 7 position.Welcome aboardLast year Modern said we would bewatching Illinois-based Wynright andSystem Logistics, headquartered inModena, Itlay. It’s a good thing we didbecause both have joined the ranks ofthis year’s Top 20 list.Wynright is making its debut on thelist at No. 17 with $135 million in revenue.A significant factor in Wynright’s24 A p r i l 2 0 1 1 / Modern Materials Handling mmh.com
MODERN special reportrecent growth was its 2009 acquisitionof Tellurian, a robotics companyin Texas, which was its fastest growingbusiness unit in 2010.System Logistics, which joinedforces with systems integrator andmaterials handling technology supplierDiamond Phoenix in September 2009,is now ranked No. 18 with $126 millionin revenue.So, who is Modern watching now?This time, we’re keeping an eye onElettric 80, headquartered in Viano,Italy. Specializing in end-of-the-lineautomation, Elettric 80 reported $94.5million in revenue last year, just 5.5%away from making the Top 20 list.Among the missingThere are a couple of familiar names missingfrom this year’s Top 20 list. For example,HK Systems, which ranked in theNo. 17 position last year with $200 millionin revenue, was acquired by Dematic.Columbus McKinnon, which heldthe No. 11 position last year with $400million in revenue, voluntarily bowedout of Modern’s survey this time around.Although the company is still involvedwith systems work, it has sold a numberof divisions.According to the Material HandlingIndustry of America, the industry isanticipating double-digit growth inthe coming year.Future forecastWhile the champagne is chilling, let’stake a look at where we are and wherewe may be headed. True, the industry isnot back to pre-recession numbers, butmany sectors came back quicker thanexpected, according to John Nofsinger,CEO of the Material Handling Industryof America (www.mhia.org). In fact, inlast month’s annual Industry Outlook,Nofsinger told Modern that in a surveyof industry leadership, all signs arepointing toward underlying optimismend-to-end. Numbers aside, he said,there’s confidence and industry feedbacksupports low double-digit growthfor the coming months. SustainableDesign-Build SolutionsFlexible Finance SolutionSon Fabric StructureS & GreenHouSeS *termS up to 10 yearS rateS aS low aS 4.99%aS little aS 10% down *Subject to credit approval.Buildingsavailable up to300' wide.Low in cost persquare foot.Natural daytimelighting.Easy to relocate.Expandable.Little or noproperty taxes.Call one of our ClearSpan Specialists at 1.866.643.1010 orvisit us at www.ClearSpan.com. Mention code CST1109.mmh.com MODERN MATERIALS HANDLING / A P R I L 2 0 1 1 25
Page 5 and 6: VOL. 66, NO.4®PRODUCTIVITY SOLUTIO
Page 8 and 9: SuPPLy Chain EduCaTiOnaL SERiES Dev
Page 10 and 11: CURRENT EVENTSMaterials handling in
Page 12 and 13: guided vehicle. In this instance, M
Page 14 and 15: lift truck TIPSHigh-frequency batte
Page 16 and 17: modern system reportOtis Technology
Page 18 and 19: modern system reportAlthough Otis h
Page 20 and 21: modern system reportMobile robots b
Page 22 and 23: MODERN special report2 0Topsystems
Page 26 and 27: modern information managementMesat
Page 28 and 29: modern information managementtaxes
Page 30 and 31: KeepmaterialsmovingCartons, totes,
Page 32 and 33: modern Equipment 101: ConveyorsA pr
Page 34 and 35: modern Equipment 101: ConveyorsA pr
Page 36 and 37: modern productivity solutionAGVs dr
Page 38 and 39: SHOW IN REVIEWProMat 2011rocksChica
Page 40 and 41: SHOW In REVIEWSystem Logistics’ v
Page 42 and 43: SHOW In REVIEWKiva robots receive s
Page 44 and 45: SHOW IN REVIEWNew high-performance
Page 46 and 47: A special supplement to modern mate
Page 50 and 51: Kirk Longo, vice presidentof supply
Page 52 and 53: FOCUS ON Racks Universally
Page 54 and 55: goodbye to exposed beltsgoodbye to
Page 56 and 57: PRODUCT ShowcaseRIDER LIFTS FOR MEZ
Page 58 and 59: modern 60 Seconds with...John South
Page 60: GuaranteedAutomated Storage & Retri

Modern Materials Handling - April 2011

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?