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KNAPP acquires Dürkopp Fördertechnik

Warehouse automation supplier KNAPP AG has acquired the leading German overhead conveyor systems specialist, Dürkopp Fördertechnik, strengthening the group’s position to supply integrated solutions to the fashion industry. Austrian-owned KNAPP is also celebrating a major order from Hermes Fulfilment, part of the Otto Group.

In a deal sewn up at the end of June, KNAPP AG has bought Dürkopp Fördertechnik GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Dürkopp Adler AG. This strategic move enables KNAPP to supply comprehensive warehouse automation solutions to clients in the fashion industry, optimizing handling efficiency for both hanging garments and flat-pack items. Commented David James, Managing Director of KNAPP UK Ltd, “This is a very exciting and welcome development for our company. The benefits to our customers are immediately obvious and we are already working together with our new colleagues at Dürkopp on a variety of opportunities.”

KNAPP has already installed numerous systems for well-known customers in the fashion industry, including Bonita, QVC and John Lewis Partnership. With the acquisition of Dürkopp Fördertechnik, KNAPP significantly expands its sales offer and service portfolio. KNAPP will take over all 160 members of staff at Dürkopp Fördertechnik, with product development and manufacturing continuing at the site in Bielefeld, Germany. Dürkopp Fördertechnik has an excellent order book, which KNAPP will fulfil in the coming months and years, to the usual high quality.

Acquisition boosts sales growth
KNAPP enjoyed a prosperous business year in 2009/10, with sales revenue of 204.6 million Euros and increased market share. The first few months of 2010/11 have already shown a pleasing order intake and, prior to the take-over, the group’s management was anticipating organic growth of 5 to 10% for the current business year. After the acquisition, sales are expected to increase by 15%. Commenting on the effect of the take-over on KNAPP’s position in the fashion sector, CEO Eduard Wünscher said, “While the share of sales in the fashion sector was at 4% in business year 2009/10, this share will be expanded to some 20% of total sales within the next two business years. Due to our wide-ranging product portfolio, we are now the first point of call worldwide for innovative logistics systems for fashion businesses.”

KNAPP lands major order from Hermes Fulfilment
KNAPP is also celebrating a major project win. The group has landed the order to install the world's largest OSR Shuttle™ system for Hermes Fulfilment – part of the leading retail and services group, Otto. The system, which will feature some 176,000 storage locations, will be installed in Hermes Fulfilment’s distribution centre in Haldensleben, Germany, with system start-up scheduled for autumn 2010. The OSR Shuttle™ will be the heart of a new automatic returns system, with a storage capacity of approximately 1 million products. Supplying 30 workstations on two levels, the highly dynamic OSR Shuttle™ will process up to 15,000 items per hour at peak times.

Commenting on the order, KNAPP CEO Eduard Wünscher said, “For this order we were successful with technology that has been at the centre of our research and development for years. We have already installed over 5,000 of our OSR shuttles at 100 customer sites, making us the market leader in this field. With further development of this system in the past business year, we have achieved even more significant results that will lead to a number of new installations in the upcoming business year.”

www.knapp.com


Upcoming Exhibitions
February 2012 - Modex - 6th to 9th February
ProMat2011 was a very successful show with attendees stating they have plans to spend $ 75 billion in materials handling equipment and technology in the next 18 months.
March 2012 - Logimat Stuttgart - 13th to 15th March
Between 13 and 15 March 2012, the 10th 'International Trade Fair for Distribution, Materials Handling and Information Flow', LogiMAT 2012, will be putting on a comprehensive show of innovative products, services and the latest solutions in the intralogistics sector. In its anniversary year LogiMAT is taking up the entire north wing of the Stuttgart Trade Fair Centre
May 2012 - AMHSA - 2nd May 2012
A one-day event for Supply Chain Directors and Senior Logistics Managers to discuss the developments in material handling over the next five years and the key role that automation and software will play.
 Keynote speaker: Lord Digby Jones


June 2012- Transfairlog - 12th to 14th
transfairlog is the name of a new specialist trade fair for international transport and logistics management, taking place for the first time from 12 to 14 June 2012 in Hamburg. transfairlog is aimed at companies involved in the import and export transport chain. It focuses on ocean and inland shipping, forwarding services and operational equipment, warehouse optimisation and process control, container cranes and electric stackers and lots more – in short transfairlog is about the optimisation of international freight transports and logistics processes. The fair covers the full spectrum in the transport and logistics market.
 
June 2012 - CSCO Forum - 18th to 20th June
The Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum is the most elite gathering of the Heads of North America’s Best-in-Class supply chains. Nowhere else will you find a greater concentration of top executives sharing strategies and engaging in board-level discussion and debate.
 
If your role depends on knowing the key supply chain management strategies of the industry leaders, and meeting and developing relationships with the executives who lead those supply chains, then you cannot afford to miss this event!
 
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June 2012 - 3PL Summit - 18th to 20th June
eyefortransport's 10th 3PL Summit, co-located with the Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum, form  the most elite meeting place for senior supply chain executives on the one hand, and the CEOs of the largest 3PLs on the other.  Discover the growth strategies of the industry leaders at their only meeting place.
 
Join the highest level, most cutting edge forum for the industry executives who are driving their organisations and their careers towards a new era of innovation and success.
 
Register to attend the most game-changing event in the industry today.
June 2012 - 3PL Awards - 19th June
Each year the eyefortransport 3PL Awards aim to recognize those 3PLs that continuously deliver excellence in logistics operations and superior service to their customers. The awards are decided on by 3PL customers - the manufacturers and retailers who depend upon and work with logistics service providers every day.
 
As such, these awards take on a special significance, and the winners can feel confident in the knowledge that their customers have chosen them as best of breed partners in supply chain excellence.
June 2012 - SIL - 5th to 8th June
The fourteenth edition of the International Logistics and Material Handling Exhibition (SIL 2012), which will be held from 5th to 8th June at Fira de Barcelona Gran Vía venue, has just presented its slogan.


September 2012 - Material Handling - 27th to 30th
The Material Handling World Expo is an endeavor
which is specifically designed to present an array of
developments in the material handling segment of the
industry. With an exhibition area spread over 10,000
Sq. Mtrs. and a guarantee of over 100 participants
both locol and foreign, The Material Handling World
Expo is a place to be.
October 2012 - CILF - 15th to 17th October 2012
The 7th China (Shenzhen) International Logistics and Transportation Fair (CILF2012) shall be held on Oct. 15-17, 2012. （Mon.-Wed.）
 
March 2013 - IMHX - 19th to 22nd March
After a hugely successful event in November 2010, a large number of IMHX exhibitors have rebooked for the next show in March 2013.
Case Studies
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Coca-cola, Amatil
Coca-Cola Amatil (CCA) has been located in Northmead for more than 30 years and over this time, has experienced high levels of continuous growth. The Northmead plant manufactures 60 million unit cases of soft drinks per year, producing product in cans at 2,000 per minute and PET bottles at 600 per minute.
The letter of the law
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Pilot scheme success
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TVH makes a smart move
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