Dematic Group, a supplier of integrated automated technology, software and services to optimise the supply chain said it has acquired FSU Investments and in turn SDI Group Europe.
SDI Group Europe is a supplier of garment-on-hanger and flat sorter technology in Europe, in which FSU holds a majority stake.
Dematic Group also said it will make an offer for the remaining share capital in SDI Group Europe held by other shareholders.
“The purchase of SDI Group Europe will expand Dematic’s global order fulfillment offerings in apparel, retail and e-commerce markets,” Dematic said.
“The combination of Dematic and SDI Group Europe enhances our focus on providing customers with critical industry solutions in to the e-commerce and apparel markets,” CEO at Dematic, Ulf Henriksson said.
He added, “The addition of garment on hanger and flat sorter technologies, combined with returns processing solution, offers our customers a true single source modular, flexible and scalable solution provider.”
Dematic believes that the acquisition of SDI Group Europe’s offerings will expand and further enhance its solutions developed to enhance customers’ responsiveness to the evolving requirements of omni-channel distribution.
Headquartered in Royston, UK, SDI Group Europe provides key components for seamless order fulfillment including pouch sorters, pusher sorters, Bombay sorters, garment-on-hanger technology, tilt tray/carton sorters and related services.
In 1996, SDI Group Europe (previously Greenstone Automation) was founded in the UK by CEO Gordon Smith.
2006 saw the consolidation of SDI Group USA and SDI Group Europe before floating of the consolidated group on the AIM in 2007.
Following a Management Buyout, the SDI Group was delisted in 2010, and SDI Group Europe and SDI Group USA legally split again.
Dematic is acquiring SDI Group Europe, but said the combined offering will be available to customers globally including the US.
Following the acquisition of SDI Group Europe, Andrea di Bella, currently the Managing Director for SDI Italy, Spain and Switzerland, will succeed Gordon Smith in the role of CEO, SDI Group Europe.
All SDI Group Europe products and services will be available through Dematic globally to current customers and prospects seeking to optimize their order fulfillment and distribution processes and solutions.
“The newly combined SDI Group Europe and Dematic offerings will be available to the market for all our new and existing North American customers along with our global customers under the Dematic brand,” Henriksson explained. (AR)
