Material Handling

CSSC Wuhan Marine Machinery Plant won orders to supply hydraulic submersible pump systems and offshore cranes for CNOOC's Kaiping 11-4 cylindrical FPSO, which is due to enter production in 2029.

Hyundai Movex signed a supply contract with Korea Kolmar worth 55.9 billion won (about 16.37% of its 2024 revenue) for logistics automation modules and robots, running until 31 August 2027.

Orbis held a grand opening for its renovated reusable pallet, tote and bulk container plant in Greenville, Texas, with 420,000 sq ft of manufacturing space. The company expects to create 190 jobs within three years.

Warehouse-robotics provider Exotec and E80 Group announced a strategic partnership to combine Exotec's Skypod AS/RS with E80's pallet-handling systems into one automation ecosystem. The joint offering will initially target CPG and grocery customers.

Veritiv Operating Company acquired Subotnick Packaging, an Oregon-based distributor of packaging products and equipment serving building materials, food, e-commerce and transportation. Financial terms were not disclosed.

JPackaging has begun construction of a wooden pallet and pallet collar plant in the Šeduva industrial park, Lithuania, under a construction contract worth nearly €14 million with AB Panevėžio statybos trestas. Total investment reaches €30 million and up to 150 jobs are planned.

Spokane Valley builder of paperboard-packaging equipment Alliance Machine Systems International agreed to acquire Systec Corporation of Indianapolis and Automatan LLC of Plover, Wisconsin, with completion expected by month end; terms undisclosed.

Columbus McKinnon agreed to acquire Kito Crosby Limited from funds managed by KKR in an all-cash deal valued at $2.7 billion, expected to close later in 2025 subject to regulatory approvals.

ORBIS Corporation opened a new manufacturing plant in Greenville, Texas, repurposing an existing facility, producing reusable totes and pallets; it is expected to reach full production by spring 2025 and create more than 190 jobs.

Hörmann Intralogistics, as general contractor, is building high-bay warehouses and conveyor technology for the new Wellpappe Alzenau corrugated board plant in Alzenau, Germany, part of the Palm Group.

VPK Group has commissioned FMW Industries to deliver an OCC pulper feed line and an automatic OCC bale wire cutter to its Oudegem plant in Belgium, with a capacity of 1,200 BDMT per day. Commissioning is planned for October 2025.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners announced a planned £42.3m investment in a new 38-metre automated storage and retrieval system warehouse at its Wakefield site, adding 29,500 pallets of capacity. The build will take two and a half years.

Hörmann Intralogistics has been commissioned as general contractor to build an automated two-aisle high-bay work-in-progress warehouse for Dunapack Packaging in Straßwalchen, Austria, to expand storage capacity.

Mpac Group has acquired CSi Palletising from Elstar International in a deal worth £46 million, announced on October 7, 2024.

JS Proputec A/S has finished and commissioned Phase 1 of a raw material reception facility for fishmeal producer Bioceval in Cuxhaven, Germany, supplying pumps, feed augers, tanks and piping. Phase 2 installation is planned for the coming months.

Bürkert Fluid Control Systems officially commissioned a new 6,000 square metre building with an automated small-parts warehouse in Öhringen, part of a 20 million euro investment. The buildings have been ready for use since June 2024.

Oshkosh Corporation signed a definitive agreement to acquire AUSACORP S.L., a privately held Spanish manufacturer of wheeled dumpers, rough terrain forklifts and telehandlers, which will join its Access segment. Closing is expected within 90 days. No deal value was disclosed.

Bollegraaf Group won the EU tender for a turn-key sorting system for Dansk Retursystem's new deposit plant in Fredericia, Denmark, which will sort 2.5 to 3.5 million bottles and cans daily when completed at the end of 2025.

Ablebox signed a multi-phase supply project with Emmepi Group, via its UK agent GTS Europe, for a materials handling solution at the Sherborne facility; the first phase is about GBP 450,000.

Modula and Ferag announced a strategic partnership, according to a Pack aktuell news roundup. The headline gives no date, so the article date is used.

Swedish intralogistics group MotionTech announced the acquisition of ITO Pallpack, a Norwegian company focused on end-of-line and complete automation systems, on 15 December 2023.

P.T. Frisian Flag Indonesia, a FrieslandCampina subsidiary, placed an order worth IDR 21 billion (about AUD 2 million) with Range International's Indonesian unit for Re>Pal pallets. Delivery for its new Cikarang factory starts in Q2 2024 and completes by May 2025.

Conner Industries, a provider of lumber, industrial wood crates and pallets, acquired Denver Reel & Pallet Company, a custom wooden crate and pallet business in Denver, Colorado.

Pact Group has extended its contract to own, operate, wash and store a crate pool for Woolworths Group for a further 10 years. Current annual revenue from the contract exceeds $50 million, and Woolworths has dropped its option to buy 50% of the Pact entity serving it.

Pact Group extended its crate pooling contract with Woolworths Group for a further 10 years, with Pact owning, operating, washing and storing reusable plastic produce crates. The contract generates annual revenue above $50 million.