Schaefer invests in DS Automation and expands AGV development
SSI Schaefer says it is expanding its development activity in the area of automated guided vehicles through an investment in DS Automation.
The company says it is doing this “in order to meet the increasing demand for AGVs”.
Schaefer is expanding its product portfolio through co-operation with, and investment in, the Austrian AGV specialist DS Automation.
DS Automation has been specializing in the development and production of highly dynamic AGVs for more than 30 years and is said by Schaefer to be “one of the world’s leading manufacturers in this sector”.
Services offered by the AGV specialist includes system implementations based on individual customer requirements. The product portfolio is further complemented with the automation of series-production vehicles.
Rob Schmit, EVP technology and innovation at Schaefer, says: “With this investment, we are expanding our existing AGV portfolio which has already seen the implementation of numerous 2Move® or 2Store® applications thanks to the MoTuM organization.”
The companies say the new partnership will provide “a significant boost” for these competencies with regard to the variety of vehicle types, expertise in navigation technology and overall project management.
Michael Mohr, EVP sales at SSI Schaefer, says: “With this acquisition, we are increasing our market coverage in this strategic future-oriented area, for which there is high demand on the market.
“As such, in the future, we will increasingly focus on handling specific picking and transport tasks with AGVs, and will supplement our solutions expertise within intralogistics with DS Automation’s expertise with customized device configurations.”
With many years of experience, Schaefer integrates customized AGV solutions for a wide range of applications into holistic logistics solutions.
This investment is in line with the system supplier’s strategy of continuously expanding its specialist expertise and solution portfolio in future-oriented areas.
The monetary value of the investment was not disclosed.