Company targets logistics because it’s a fast-growing market for robotics and automation
Swisslog has acquired Power Automation Systems (PAS), a company which specialises in pallet shuttle automated storage and retrieval systems – mostly used in logistics.
Now with offerings ranging from advanced robotics to fast case shuttles and pallet shuttles, together with Kuka, Swisslog says it continues building the “automation powerhouse chain offering clients compelling solutions”.
Christian Baur, Swisslog CEO of warehouse and distribution solutions, said: “The acquisition of PAS allows Swisslog to expand our product portfolio and offerings with focus to the North American and APAC markets.
“As the leader in logistics automation, our goal was to offer our clients a new dimension of speed and storage density for pallet warehouses that handle a confined number of SKU’s with high volume, not only in the green field, but also for existing buildings.”
PAS and Swisslog customers will remain top priority throughout the acquisition and leadership change, said Swisslog in a statement.
“The combination of Swisslog and PAS will deliver benefits to our customers greater than the sum of our parts,” said Markus Schmidt, senior vice president, Swisslog Warehouse and Distribution Solutions Americas.
Schmidt went on: “Furthermore, Swisslog offers its world class service with our customer support team consisting of 24/7 help desk, remote system monitoring, on-site support, spare parts and system retrofit expansions, and modernizations, which will be of great benefit to PAS’s existing customers.”
Headquartered in Lathrop, CA, the PAS office will immediately serve as the Swisslog WDS Americas West Coast location.
In addition, the acquisition is designed to further develop and expand Swisslog’s reach in North America, South America, Asia, and Australia, for fast moving goods.
Pat Mitchell, inventor, founder, and previous owner of PAS, said: “Swisslog and PAS have partnered in the past to provide top notch automation solutions for clients such as Coca-Cola and Sutter Home (Trinchero Family Estates).
“I am proud that we have attracted Swisslog, a company with a great reputation and global size, so that the PAS solutions can grow to their full potential and expand on the leadership we’ve created.”
Michael Felbinger has been appointed as general manager of the PAS business line and will ensure seamless integration into Swisslog.
Felbinger said: “I am looking forward to working with the innovative PAS team to deliver first-class products and solutions that create high value to our customers worldwide.”
Felbinger has 20 years of material handling experience in Europe and the United States and serves as a vice president at Swisslog Americas.
