Global Shop Solutions employees celebrated as Emerging Leaders by NTMA
Developing homegrown leaders is one of the most important things companies can do to pave the way for continued success. Global Shop Solutions, a global provider of ERP software for manufacturers, has announced that Cynthia Ashby and Ryan Carpenter were identified as Emerging Leaders by the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA). NTMA is a U.S.-based trade association with 1,200 tool & die and precision manufacturing companies representing more than $35 billion in sales. Each year NTMA selects 15 individuals – nominated by their employers – for recognition in the association’s Emerging Leaders Rising program. This program recognizes the hard work and accomplishments of future leaders in manufacturing. “We’re very proud to have Cynthia and Ryan on our team,” says Dusty Alexander, President and CEO of Global Shop Solutions. “Cynthia attained her current position as Manager of the Financial Data Analysis Team by earning the respect, admiration, and trust of senior leaders, supervisors, fellow employees, and customers. As an Operations Consultant on our Continuous Improvement Team, Ryan has greatly impacted our customers by continuously helping them improve their fluency with our software and resolve issues from quote to cash. It’s employees like Cynthia and Ryan that have made Global Shop Solutions great today and into the future.” Each Emerging Leaders class is profiled in The Record, NTMA’s Monthly Precision Manufacturing Magazine and are invited to attend Manufacturing Engage – the annual precision manufacturing conference – where they are recognized on stage during the awards ceremony. They are also invited to attend the annual Emerging Leaders Conference where they can connect with each other and continue to develop their leadership skills. “It’s an honor to receive this award, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance of others,” says Ashby. “Becoming an Emerging Leader has motivated me to work harder and continue growing in my career while helping others succeed.” “I am honored to be chosen as an Emerging Leader,” says Carpenter. “Every day I do my best to ensure our customers’ needs are met, and I hope to pioneer a path for new hires by demonstrating the effectiveness of young leaders.”
Industry veteran Cantillo joins executive team at Got-Rack.com
Got-Rack.com just announced that Nelson Cantillo has joined their company to be its new VP of Corporate Strategy and Business Development. Cantillo has over 42 years of experience and considerable expertise in the supply chain and material handling industry. His focus will be on its national partnerships specifically in acquisitions and sales of new, used, and refurbished racking systems. In addition, Cantillo has served as vice president of the RMI (Rack Manufacturer’s Institute), the MHI trade association’s largest product group, His affiliation with RMI goes back over 25+ years. Cantillo was previously at Tri-Boro Shelving and Partition Corp. based in Farmville, VA. Got-Rack.com has locations in Florida, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia. They will soon have future locations in Nevada and West Virginia.
Hy-Tek reintroduces itself with new brand identity
Hy-Tek Material Handling debuts a new look as Hy-Tek Intralogistics- reflecting the company’s growth and new brand promise Hy-Tek Material Handling, a full-service provider of integrated fulfillment and distribution solutions, announced today that it has completed a major rebranding. Hy-Tek Material Handling reintroduces itself with a new brand identity, positioning, and brand promise as Hy-Tek Intralogistics. Hy-Tek Material Handling originally started as Slife Material Handling in 1963. The name and logo continued for 26 years until Sam Grooms and four others purchased the company in 1989, renaming it Hy-Tek Material Handling— a play on the 1980s buzzword “High-Tech.” Inspired by its roots, the 59-year-old national supply chain integration company is reimagining every detail of its service offerings and the customer experience in the form of a single-source platform that can meet its customers at any stage of the process. “Over fifty years ago, Hy-Tek set out on a mission to build the organization into a single-source platform for our customers,” said Sam Grooms, CEO of Hy-Tek. “We have done this by developing internal expertise and through the acquisition of several brands. I am excited about the future of Hy-Tek Intralogistics. We believe this name best represents our comprehensive offering and supports our vision.” Over the next several months, Hy-Tek will be taking steps to migrate all its acquired companies under the new Hy-Tek Intralogistics brand. The full migration is expected to be completed in early 2023.
ASSP helps safety and health professionals get recognized
Occupational safety and health professionals create safe work environments in all industries around the globe, helping workers return home safe and healthy to their loved ones at the end of the day. Through its organization-wide awards program, the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) puts a spotlight on many dedicated members and member groups that advance workplace safety and the profession. Nominations are encouraged. ASSP’s top annual recognitions include the Honor of Fellow, ASSP Safety Professional of the Year, William E. Tarrants Outstanding Safety Educator, and the Thomas F. Bresnahan Standards Medal for achievement in workplace safety standards. “We are pleased to acknowledge the work our members do to protect workers, save lives and help businesses succeed,” said ASSP President Christine Sullivan, CSP, ARM. “Our Society consistently highlights these special individuals and groups, and we welcome nominations from the safety field to make sure we don’t miss the brightest stars.” Additional honors that ASSP presents to safety and health professionals each year include: ASSP Foundation Distinguished Service Award Chapter Awards Charles V. Culbertson Outstanding Volunteer Service Award Council on Practices and Standards Safety Professional of the Year Outstanding Student Section Award (for colleges and universities) Practice Specialties and Common Interest Groups Community Award Practice Specialties and Common Interest Groups Safety Professional of the Year President’s Award Professional Safety Article of the Year Region Safety Professional of the Year “Our many vibrant ASSP communities worldwide, from chapters to practice specialties to common interest groups, contribute to our mission of creating safe work environments,” Sullivan said. “We’re focused on recognizing the many deserving members who consistently help propel safety forward.”
Women In Trucking Association announces its November 2022 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Raquel Sanchez as its November 2022 Member of the Month. Sanchez is a feeder driver for United Parcel Service (UPS). When Sanchez joined the Army National Guard in 2011, she was offered the opportunity to drive a truck. Inspired by her father, Jim Sanchez, who has been a driver for UPS for more than 38 years, she realized her love for being behind the wheel. Sanchez left the military after eight years and continued doing various jobs, however, never felt completely satisfied in her work. Following the passion she found for driving trucks, Sanchez began her career at UPS in August 2019 as a part-time employee and loaded packages onto delivery trucks. Progressing quickly, she became a delivery driver and eventually began driving a semi-truck for UPS in February 2022. Most recently, Sanchez and her father made history by being the first father-and-daughter long-haul team on the West Coast. “As someone who is just starting their career, I feel blessed to have my dad by my side as a mentor,” said Sanchez. “In 1997, my dad was on the first experimental UPS sleeper team when I was just seven years old. Who would have thought I would be his partner all these years later?” Since long-haul driving is a mostly sedentary job, Sanchez believes in the importance of staying healthy and focuses on nutritious foods to stay energized behind the wheel. Additionally, when she is not driving, she makes it a priority to spend time in the gym, saying, “staying healthy allows me to keep moving packages from one destination to the next and I know I am doing my part to move the world forward by delivering what matters.” Sanchez feels a sense of accomplishment driving a truck and encourages other women to pursue a career in this industry, saying, “more than 70 percent of goods and services are delivered by trucks, and being able to deliver loads on time gives you a sense of self-importance and value and I feel proud of the work I do after completing my last stop of the day.”
Semiconductor innovator becomes the newest CLPA member
The CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA) has welcomed Lattice Semiconductor as the latest member of its network of leading industrial automation vendors, system integrators, and end users. This new collaboration will help advance interconnected industrial automation applications, enhancing their efficiency, security, and safety and benefitting manufacturing industries worldwide. The rapidly and constantly expanding CLPA membership unites key industry players to drive the development and adoption of state-of-the-art automation devices, enabling the creation of the Connected Industries of the future. These solutions are backed by the organization’s open network technologies, which provide a solid foundation for interconnectivity, interoperability, and standardization among different automation products. Compatibility with the CLPA’s industrial communications protocols is provided via hardware and software tools for product development, such as field-programmable gate array (FPGA) and intellectual property (IP) cores. Lattice, the low-power programmable leader, is, therefore, an ideal fit within the organization, as the company’s portfolio features powerful, energy-efficient integrated circuits. Manabu Hamaguchi, Global Director at CLPA, welcomed Lattice to the organization, noting the role of the company in the semiconductor industry: “We are excited to work with Lattice. Our goal is to improve efficiency and speed up the construction of IIoT-driven smart factories with our industry-leading TSN technology. We believe Lattice’s low-power FPGAs and its wide range of application-specific solutions will strengthen our mission of making the Connected Industries of the future a reality today.” Bringing Lattice into the CLPA’s membership allows automation vendors to benefit from a broader range of cutting-edge hardware and software-based solutions to offer compatibility with widely adopted and sought-after network technologies. These include CC-Link IE TSN, the first open industrial Ethernet that combines gigabit bandwidth with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) to converge information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) network traffic, helping to realize the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Matt Dobrodziej, Vice President of Segment Marketing and Business Development at Lattice, comments: “As Industry 4.0 advancements continue, seamless IT and OT network interoperation, real-time control, and flexible product support are essential for security, safety, and reliability in smart factories. We look forward to collaborating with the CLPA to deliver optimized industrial networking solutions powered by our FPGA solutions and IPs, including the Lattice Automate™ solution stack and Lattice mVision™ solution stack.” Thomas Burke, Global Advisor at CLPA, concludes: “The CLPA constantly strives to help drive competitiveness in the manufacturing sector as well as the profile of its members in the marketplace. This is achieved by supporting the development of automation devices with the advanced capabilities offered by our open network technologies. By adding Lattice to our open development ecosystem, we can help this leading company develop its business worldwide while underpinning the development of future-oriented IIoT systems. We look forward to collectively building on the already impressive list of CC-Link IE TSN compatible automation devices.”
BrandSafway wins three Access Industry Awards
SAIA recognizes achievements for innovative access technologies, including the world’s tallest hoist tower The Scaffold & Access Industry Association (SAIA), the premier professional organization in the industry, recognized the extraordinary achievements of BrandSafway with three Project Awards during the SAIA Annual Convention & Exposition in Boston in August 2022, as follows: Mast Driven Hoists and Platforms Project of the Year Award: Central Park Tower, New York City Provided the tallest hoist on a common tower and the world’s largest continuous rack and pinion hoist Supported Scaffold Project of the Year Award: Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO Designed and installed debris shield and plywood barrier to withstand winds up to 90 miles per hour Innovation Award: Fort St. John, British Columbia Engineered custom motorized carrier combined with a hydraulic self-leveling platform for water-intake conduits at hydro dam “We thank SAIA for recognizing the efforts of the BrandSafway teams whose work goes above and beyond the ordinary to provide our customers with the safest, most productive, and innovative access solutions,” said Karl Fessenden, BrandSafway president & CEO. World Record Hoist Complex Central Park Tower, located on “billionaires’ row” and overlooking Central Park, is the highest residential tower in the world and the second tallest building in New York City. Lendlease Corporation contracted with SafwayAtlantic by BrandSafway to design, supply, install and dismantle a six-car construction hoist complex. The common tower reached the 99th floor, a world-record height of 1,515 feet 6 inches, and was erected and dismantled without incident. The common tower is made from shoring and scaffolding components decked at each entry level for access. SafwayAtlantic also equipped the hoist complex with a Hydro Mobile mast climber positioned above the hoist cars. This improved scheduling efficiency and eliminated interference between construction crews and tower erection crews. Managing the sheer load of the common tower also presented an extreme engineering challenge. Because the hoist complex was too wide to fully fit on building setbacks on the fifth floor and eighth floors, it was partially cantilevered with massive steel dunnage made from I-beams. Demolition Protection Ahrens Contracting of St. Louis retained BrandSafway to erect Systems™ Scaffold along with a dust and debris containment system around the 227-foot-tall Queeny Tower, as it was demolished to make way for a new patient care facility at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, the preeminent healthcare facility in St. Louis. To sufficiently contain the demolition dust and debris and prevent it from infiltrating the hospital’s HVAC intake system, three sides of the containment system required a plywood barrier, totaling 95,567 square feet, as well as scrim. As one floor was demolished, the scaffold debris shield would extend vertically (e.g., cantilever) to provide containment. After the demolition of a floor was completed, the cantilevered section would be dismantled. However, because the shield would exist unsupported for a period of time before being dismantled, the cantilevered section needed to withstand wind forces in excess of 90 mph. To be certain that the solution could withstand wind forces, BrandSafway used a proprietary structural analysis and designing program. The company also used software and pull-testing tools to confirm that the building ties could withstand loads in excess of 3,000 psi. The anchors were tested on an actual portion of the 55-year-old building, which would need to support more than 160,000 lbs. of plywood alone. Hybrid Mobile Access/Scaffold Solution The BC Hydro Site C Clean Energy Project on the Peace River in Fort St. John, British Columbia, features six 183-megawatt hydro turbines. General Contractor Groupe LAR retained BrandSafway to design and deliver a hybrid access/scaffold solution on six penstocks, which are 32 feet in diameter, 300-feet-long fabricated steel conduits, and run from the reservoir above to the turbines below. Aluma Systems, Hydro Mobile, Winsafe, and Spider (all BrandSafway companies) collaborated to engineer a first-of-its-kind, one-of-a-kind solution: an electrically operated carrier integrated with a self-leveling hydraulically controlled platform, which supported multiple levels of Systems Scaffold. The self-leveling design enabled workers to safely and efficiently paint, weld, inspect, repair, and sandblast the penstocks, which- have a serpentine geometry and steep decline. In addition, the self-leveling mobile platform transported workers throughout all six months of the project without a safety incident, delivered the lowest total installed cost compared to erecting supported scaffold, and reduced overall time for the coating application. “These Project Awards affirm the excellence and innovation of our BrandSafway engineering, installation, and project management teams,” says Fessenden. “We have a tradition of designing access solutions for even the most challenging jobs, as well as developing new ideas that improve safety and efficiency for our customers.”
KION Group appoints new Chief Financial Officer and Chief People and Sustainability Officer
Marcus A. Wassenberg was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the Group Valeria Gargiulo to assume the newly created role of Chief People and Sustainability Officer Chairman of the Supervisory Board Michael Macht: “The additions to the Executive Board underline KION Group’s clear commitment to achieving its strategic medium-term targets swiftly and in full, including strong profitability, the implementation of significant sustainability targets and the expansion of internal human resources planning and development initiatives” KION GROUP AG announces the completion of its Executive Board with the appointments of Marcus Wassenberg as Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Valeria Gargiulo as Chief People and Sustainability Officer (CPSO). The expansion of the Executive Board will come into effect in the first half of 2023; the position of CPSO will be newly created. Marcus Wassenberg (55) joins KION GROUP AG as CFO from Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG. His responsibilities at KION will include Accounting, Controlling, Finance, IT, as well as M&A and Investor Relations. The VPs Finance of the Operating Units will also report to Wassenberg. He will assume his new role by April 1, 2023, at the latest. Since September 2019, he has been responsible for the successful implementation of a comprehensive transformation program as CFO at Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, improving the company’s financial performance and competitiveness. He also served previously as CFO at Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG and Senvion AG. At both companies, he gained relevant industry experience and actively engaged with capital market participants. Wassenberg will work alongside with the entire Executive Board to further drive the profitability of the Group and enhance the processes required to achieve this. He will also actively engage in the dialogue with the capital markets both on the equities and the debt side. Valeria Gargiulo (50) joins KION Group AG from Daimler Truck AG and will assume her new role as Chief People and Sustainability Officer in Frankfurt/Main by May 1, 2023, at the latest. She will also take up the role as Labor Relations Director. Gargiulo’s responsibilities at KION will include Group-wide HR, Health & Safety, and Sustainability. As CPSO, she will focus, among other things, on attracting and intensively developing talent around the globe, equipping internal teams with all the necessary skills, and further advancing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture that elevates people’s engagement and unlocks their long-term potential. At Daimler Truck, she serves as Vice President People & Organisational Development. With around 30 years of experience in HR, sales, legal, and M&A, she brings extensive international experience as well as an excellent track record in organizational development, including building trustful relationships with social partners. As an active member of the ESG Steering Committee at her current employer, she is also instrumental in developing and implementing a state-of-the-art sustainability vision and process. Based on her many years of experience in the areas of environment, social and responsible corporate governance, she will sharpen the Group’s sustainability profile, significantly increase its transparency and ensure targeted implementation. “Valeria Gargiulo and Marcus Wassenberg, both experienced executives with proven track records, high-performance standards, and compelling visions for the future, will strengthen the incumbent Executive Board led by CEO Rob Smith” said Dr Michael Macht, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of KION Group AG. “The additions to the Executive Board underline KION Group’s clear commitment to achieving its strategic medium-term targets swiftly and in full. This applies in particular to strong profitability, the implementation of significant sustainability targets, and the expansion of internal human resources planning and development initiatives.” Rob Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the KION GROUP, added: “We at KION are focused on delivering profitable growth for the benefit of our stakeholders. Central to this pursuit is to continue to be an attractive employer who masters the challenges of our times. As a responsible company, we will contribute to the positive and sustainable development of our environment and society. I look forward to working with Valeria Gargiulo, Marcus Wassenberg, and all my other colleagues on the Executive Board to achieve our goals.”
Alta Equipment Group to acquire Ecoverse Industries creating additional business segment
Establishes Alta’s Master Dealer Equipment Distribution Platform in North America Expands Product Portfolio and Diversifies End Markets with Entrance into Environmental Processing Equipment Ecoverse’s $64.3 million in revenue, $10.0 million in net income, $10.1 million in Adjusted EBITDA, and $9.7 million of Adjusted pre-tax net income on a trailing twelve-month basis is expected to be immediately accretive to the Company’s free cash flow conversion, profitability, and earnings per share ratios. Alta Equipment Group Inc. has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ecoverse Industries, LTD (“Ecoverse”), a full-line distributor of industry-leading environmental processing equipment headquartered in Avon, Ohio, with 15 sub-dealers throughout North America. “The acquisition of Ecoverse is exciting for our business as it represents our first investment into large-scale equipment distribution, giving us the master dealer rights to distribute best-in-class environmental equipment to dealers and customers throughout North America,” said Ryan Greenawalt, Chief Executive Officer of Alta. “Ecoverse has a long-standing track record in the environmental processing equipment sector as a distributor of high-end equipment which is used in biofuel, composting, and various waste and recycling applications. The Ecoverse acquisition immediately positions Alta as an industry leader in a sector where demand for eco-friendly waste solutions and recycling continues to grow. We welcome Ecoverse to the Alta family.” Strategic and Financial Highlights Exclusive distribution rights to North America for European equipment OEMs, including Doppstadt, Backus, Backers, and Tiger Depackaging products. The increasing size of the equipment field population in North America will provide for future parts and service growth opportunities. Ecoverse generated approximately $64.3 million in revenue, $10.0 million in net income, Adjusted EBITDA of $10.1 million, and $9.7 million of Adjusted pre-tax net income for the trailing twelve-month period through July 2022. Given Ecoverse’s asset-light distribution business model and minimal maintenance capex requirements, the Company expects the acquisition to be highly accretive to the Company’s EBITDA to cash flow conversion and earnings per share ratios. The deal is structured as an asset acquisition allowing for a step-up in tax basis of assets acquired. Additional Transaction Details The purchase price includes $42.5 million in cash, $2.5 million of Alta common stock and a $6.0 million seller note, at close. In addition, the purchase price includes contingent consideration in the form of an earn-out whereby sellers can earn an additional $4.0 million of Alta common stock and $12.0 million of cash over a five-year period subject to future EBITA growth. To the extent EBITA remains flat at July 2022 trailing twelve-month levels throughout the earn-out period, the total purchase price will be $59.0 million ($52.5 million in cash and $6.5 million in stock). Other iterations of the ultimate purchase price range from $51.0 million to $67.0 million based on future EBITA performance. Ecoverse’s brand name, employees, and management team will remain in place post-close. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022. Including Ecoverse, since the Company’s initial public offering in 2020, Alta has completed 13 acquisitions which have contributed $440.3 million in revenue, and $52.5 million in Adjusted EBITDA. More information on Ecoverse, its products and applications can be found at www.ecoverse.net.
State Tractor & Equipment joins LiuGong North America Dealer Network
State Tractor & Equipment Co. Inc. is the latest dealership to join the LiuGong dealer lineup. Throughout the process of joining the LiuGong dealer network, State Tractor & Equipment leaders were impressed by the service LiuGong provides. Unlike other heavy equipment manufacturers, they have the infrastructure, inventory, employees, and quality products to ensure their customers are satisfied. Joshua Badder, State Tractor & Equipment sales director, noted they have already sold their first machine. “We are pretty excited to see how this LiuGong machine does out in the field,” he said. “We look forward to strengthening our partnership and seeing what the future holds.” State Tractor & Equipment is family owned and operated by Cliff Dale and his two sons. It has one location currently in Kansas City, Kansas, with a second store coming in Springfield, Missouri. The grand opening was slated for Oct. 6. Company leaders also hope to expand to Oklahoma in the future. State Tractor & Equipment has a background in railroad service, heavy haul trucking, and added sales to its offerings in 2015. Securing LiuGong products will be integral to expanding that side of the business. “We are really good on the shop aspect of the business, and on the sales side too,” Badder said. LiuGong North America President Andrew Ryan welcomed State Tractor & Equipment to the dealer network and said the partnership will bolster its footprint in the region. “We are thankful to add another great partner in State Tractor & Equipment to our LiuGong dealer network,” Ryan said. “Their presence in the Midwest helps us continue our development and growth strategy in North America.” State Tractor & Equipment offers machinery for construction, vegetation management, demolitions, scrap, and recycling applications.
UgoWork lithium-ion batteries now approved for use with lift trucks of another major OEM
UgoWork™, a Canadian energy solutions provider specializing in the material handling industry, just announced that its UL-listed lithium-ion battery line-up for industrial trucks can now be used to power lift trucks from a major OEM. The name of the OEM remains undisclosed. This announcement comes on the heels of UgoWork’s battery solutions being certified by another, globally renowned OEM. Following thorough testing and evaluation, the OEM has confirmed that UgoWork’s battery specifications are within the parameters of the company’s lift truck requirements. The approval ensures that the OEM’s lift trucks will perform as intended and will continue to meet all applicable statutory, regulatory, and corporate requirements for the vehicle types being powered by UgoWork lithium-ion batteries. As a result, UgoWork batteries are approved for the OEM’s specific class I, II, and III lift truck models. “UgoWork products are designed for the most demanding customers, and compatibility with the lift trucks of reputed OEMs is inevitable,” said Philippe Beauchamp, President and CEO of UgoWork. “Our goal is to provide the highest level of performance, efficiency, and safety to our customers. This milestone will facilitate our client’s lithium-ion transition and ultimately, benefit the whole ecosystem,” he added.
EnerSys® strengthens partnership with Industrial Battery & Charger, Inc. through product territory expansion
EnerSys®, the global provider of stored energy solutions for industrial applications, has strengthened its Manufacturer Representative Agreement with Industrial Battery & Charger, Inc. (IBCI) by granting exclusive sales and service rights for all EnerSysprovider® motive power products in the Middle Tennessee Territory, with local offices in Nashville. Effective immediately, the exclusivity agreement includes the complete line of EnerSys® NexSys® and IRONCLAD® batteries, as well as IMPAQ™, NexSys®+, and Express® chargers. With corporate headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, IBCI is the largest motive and stationary power applications provider in the Southeast. IBCI will deploy its team of elite sales associates and certified service technicians, as well as more than 40 years of knowledge and success in industrial distribution, to grow EnerSys® motive power product distribution and awareness across this important market territory. “Our expanded partnership with IBCI is a testament to our ongoing 30-plus year business relationship and the growing appeal that our premium motive power solutions offer to customers who are eager to optimize their fleet operations,” said Michael Shea, General Manager, Southern Area at EnerSys. “We look forward to continuing to work closely with our colleagues at IBCI to provide customers in the Southeast region with products and services that can enhance the productivity and performance of their equipment to help deliver a lower Total Cost of Ownership.” “Like IBCI, EnerSys® is built around the business philosophy that ‘customer service and satisfaction come first. Having the good fortune to partner with such a like-minded organization has been an absolute privilege,” said Jason Poston, President of Industrial Battery & Charger, Inc. “We look forward to this next journey in our collaboration as we continue to elevate the customer experience with access to the latest battery and charger products, accessories, and services.” For more information about EnerSys® and its full line of products, systems, and support, visit www.enersys.com.
Plastics Industry Association names Mónica Mancilla Cooke Senior Director, Human Resources
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has announced that Mónica Mancilla Cooke has been named Senior Director, Human Resources, effective immediately. “We’re building a larger, top-flight team at PLASTICS – it takes someone with Mónica’s HR expertise to help us ensure the success of our professional environment,” said Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of PLASTICS. “Mónica brings a wealth of compliance, talent recruitment, and development experience that will help PLASTICS continue to grow and thrive.” Cooke’s wide-ranging HR background comprises key roles in a variety of organizations in the Washington Association arena, including her work with the Information Technology Industry Council, American Petroleum Institute, and International Republican Institute. “I am humbled to be part of an organization that supports a workforce of nearly one million, that works to protect and promote the direction of the plastics industry,” said Cooke. “We have an exceptional team, and I am honored to have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference for PLASTICS.”
Plastics Industry Association names Charlotte Dreizen Director, Sustainability and Environment
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) just announced that Charlotte Dreizen has been named Director, Sustainability and Environment, effective immediately. As a member of PLASTICS’ sustainability team, Dreizen will conduct direct oversight of activities that encompass Operation Clean sweep (OCS), a program founded by PLASTICS and operated in partnership with the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division, in which companies that handle resin commit to protocols designed to help reach zero resin loss in operations. Charlotte will also lead the association’s efforts on educational programs and external efforts that prioritize the reduction of plastics in our environment. “I couldn’t be more thrilled for the opportunity to join PLASTICS and to lead Operation Clean Sweep,” said Dreizen. “Achieving zero resin loss is a mission-critical sustainability goal and I’m excited to support our membership throughout the supply chain in ensuring that no plastic pellet, flake, or powder enters the environment.” Dreizen’s background includes valuable experience supporting circular economy and net-zero carbon initiatives. Prior to her arrival at PLASTICS, she led the American Institute of Architects’ 2030 Commitment, empowering more than 1,100 firms nationwide, to measure progress towards carbon neutrality by tracking data for 3.5 billion gross square feet of construction. Dreizen has also managed recycling programs, policy, and education for the Washington, D.C. Department of Public Works’ Office of Waste Diversion, and supported manufacturers and brands in achieving their sustainability goals at the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. “In Charlotte we’ve found someone with hands-on experience in helping companies achieve real sustainability goals,” said Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of PLASTICS. “Charlotte stands out among experts with theories on sustainability and is already an invaluable asset to our members. Her public presence in providing guidance and tools to better understand the challenges with recycling is admired by professionals across our industry.” “Charlotte’s role is new to PLASTICS,” said Patrick Krieger, PLASTICS’ Vice President, sustainability. “Charlotte’s focus area demonstrates the importance the PLASTICS industry places on eliminating plastic waste in the environment and on Operation Clean Sweep, specifically. Our members want to be responsible stewards of the resources they use and the products they make.”
Lincoln Electric signs definitive agreement to acquire Fori Automation, Inc.
The acquisition will accelerate the automation growth Strategy with new complementary capabilities, expanded scale and international reach Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Fori Automation, Inc. (“Fori Automation”). Fori Automation, a privately held automation engineering firm founded in 1984, is a leading designer and manufacturer of complex, multi-armed automated welding systems, with an extensive range of automated assembly systems, automated material handling solutions, automated large-scale, industrial guidance vehicles (AGVs), and end of line testing systems. Fori Automation primarily serves automotive and aerospace OEMs and is headquartered in Shelby Township, Michigan, the U.S.A. with additional operations in six international facilities across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The acquisition will accelerate Lincoln’s Higher Standard 2025 strategic goal of achieving $1 billion in automation sales by 2025 with the addition of new and innovative automated capabilities including large-scale assembly, automated material handling solutions, and end-of-line testing systems. These complementary solutions will extend Lincoln’s market presence within the attractive automotive sector, better position Lincoln Electric to capitalize on accelerating investments in automotive EV platforms, and offer cross-selling growth opportunities to Lincoln’s industrial customers. The acquisition would also extend Lincoln’s automation footprint in South Korea and India and expand Lincoln’s existing presence in Europe, China, and Latin America. The Fori Automation acquisition is expected to increase Lincoln Electric’s annual automation sales by approximately $225 million at comparable EBIT margins to Lincoln Electric’s current automation portfolio and is expected to be accretive to earnings. “This transaction represents an exciting growth opportunity for both organizations by bringing together best-in-class automation platforms and engineering expertise to drive value for all of our stakeholders and accelerate our automation growth and resources to advance our Higher Standard 2025 strategy,” said Christopher L. Mapes, Lincoln’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Customers are increasingly investing in automation to efficiently grow their businesses, and our organizations are at the forefront of helping automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers achieve their operational goals.” The definitive agreement provides for a cash purchase price of $427 million, subject to a customary working capital adjustment. The Company intends to fund the transaction with cash on hand and arranged credit. The proposed acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and other customary closing conditions and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Pfannenberg celebrates 25th anniversary of North American Manufacturing
Pfannenberg, Inc., a global manufacturer of thermal management, signaling technologies, and packaged process chillers, announces the 25th anniversary of its United States manufacturing operations. A celebratory event will be held on November 9th, 2022, from 12-5 p.m. at the company’s facility at 68 Ward Road, Lancaster, NY. The event will feature a buffet meal, factory tours, and presentations by Andreas Pfannenberg, Owner – of Pfannenberg Group, Tobias Merle, CEO – of Pfannenberg Group, Earl Rogalski, President – of Pfannenberg Sales America, and Ronald Ruffino, Lancaster Town Supervisor. In announcing the celebration, Andreas Pfannenberg paid special tribute to the resources available in the Western New York Region that he says are a major contributor to the company’s success. “When we decided in the late 1990s to expand into North America from our roots in Germany, we understood that to successfully grow the business, products for North America needed to be designed and manufactured in North America.” He added, “The Buffalo area’s long and storied manufacturing history and reputation for a strong work ethic fit our needs and supports Pfannenberg’s high-quality reputation. Our North American growth is largely due to the willingness of the two cultures to work together in the spirit of learning.” Tobias Merle added, “As a German family business, we are proud to develop and produce our thermal management products in Lancaster, NY. Known for offering unique value and the highest standards, our product solutions and services are trusted by some of the largest, well-known companies from around the world. Our success for the last 25 years is based on a long-term vision of growth built around high-quality products manufactured in America, our skilled employees, and our reputation as a trusted advisor to our customers. As we look forward, we welcome anyone who wants to be part of this journey for the next 25 years.” Earl Rogalski, noted that it is an honor to be working alongside his Pfannenberg colleagues in the United States and around the world. “What makes this milestone achievement so special,” said Rogalski, “Is knowing the positive impact our colleagues are making and the solutions our products are providing – from critical life-saving infrastructure to clean drinking water. Few companies get an opportunity to celebrate 10 years, let alone 25 years. This is a fantastic achievement made possible by our dedicated and highly talented team.”
Wolter, Inc. celebrates Sixty Years of business and growth
Wolter, Inc. celebrates sixty years of business and tremendous growth. Wolter continues to grow through the expansion of product offerings, superior customer service, acquisitions, and an extensive suite of operational productivity solutions Wolter has built over the decades. Becoming Wolter The Wolter, Inc. story began in 1962, when Otto Wolter, CEO, founded LPM Parts & Service, later named Wisconsin Lift Truck, out of a two-car garage in Milwaukee, WI. Starting as an aftermarket parts supplier, Wolter quickly expanded into service and used material handling equipment sales. From there, the company took on new lift truck lines and began to grow the business organically. In 1995, Otto Wolter began looking to accelerate growth through acquisition: 1995: Fiorenza Material Handling, Illinois 1998: AmGen, Wisconsin 2001: Equipment Sales & Service, Wisconsin 2006: Material Handling Services, Wisconsin 2010: WITCO Systems, Wisconsin 2012: Scott Lift Truck, Illinois; YDR, Wisconsin 2014: Chicago Lift Truck, Illinois 2015: Service Max and Fleet Lift Truck Service, Illinois 2016: Ellis Systems, Illinois 2017: Stephan Forklift Repair, Wisconsin 2019: Kensar Equipment Company, Indiana; Bohnert Equipment Company, Kentucky 2020: Integrity Industrial Equipment, Ohio; A D Lift Truck, Missouri; K&L Equipment, Illinois 2021: Power Products Plus, WI; Advantage Materials Handling, IN 2022: Valley Industrial Crane, OH On January 1st, 2022, these collective brands united to rebrand as Wolter, Inc. And now, at 60 years of business, Wolter is comprised of a diverse suite of productivity solutions including material handling equipment, automation, and robotics, cranes and hoists, engineered systems, storage and handling, railcar movers, power systems, workplace storage; offering sales, service, parts rentals, and training. The People Behind the Name The company employs a team of over 550 product and solution specialists that can address each customer’s operational challenges under the mission of creating serious competitive advantages for its customers by leveraging its products, services, and people’s unique expertise to reimagine their productivity opportunities. “Wolter began as and continues to be a family business – a family business that does not just speak to the family members of the founder, but to a set of values that the business is based around,” explains, Jerry Weidmann, Wolter President. “Our values determine the way we care for one another, the way we work together, and the way we take care of our customers.” “Our future has a strong foundation and a strong team. We can all be proud of what has been, and all look forward to the future that is yet to be.”
Durante Equipment joins LiuGong North America Dealer lineup
LiuGong North America has added another Florida-based dealer to its lineup, in the form of Hollywood, Fla.-based Durante Equipment. Durante Equipment is a general rent equipment operations company (it includes both construction equipment and material handling products) and boasts a 30-year track record of experience led by Dealer Principal/President John Durante and GM/Sales Manager David D’Attilo. The Hollywood location allows Durante to serve material handling and earthmoving customers in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Durante’s family and dealership background are based in New York. He added the Florida location roughly 2 ½ years ago. The availability of material handling inventory is key to the partnership, D’Attilo said. D’Attilo noted a strong customer base within material handling and worked with the LiuGong North America team to become the dealer for sales as well as rentals. Additionally, D’Attilo described the importance of culture within Durante Equipment with its three core tenets: driven to deliver, old-school values, and a passion to be the best. “I like to say that we are constantly building a culture,” D’Attilo said. “We are very selective on who to keep and put into our team because we want to have people here for the long haul.” Jared Ward, LiuGong North America Director of Material Handling, welcomed the Durante Equipment family into the fold. “Durante Equipment has a strong pedigree in rentals and material handling, and we are thrilled to welcome them to our LiuGong dealer lineup,” Ward said. “Ensuring they have the products and availability they need is a major part of our mission and program.” Michel Marchand, LiuGong North America Vice President of Sales, noted the importance of Durante to LiuGong’s construction equipment dealer network. “Florida is booming with projects requiring heavy equipment,” Marchand said. “As we continue to add great partners to our dealer network, we are confident Durante Equipment will be up to the task of servicing earthmoving customers in the area.”
Siena Analytics joins Splunk Partnerverse to build applications that provide real-time visibility into warehouse operations
Siena Analytics, a provider of supply chain AI and image recognition for high-volume logistics, announced that it has joined Partnerverse™ – the Splunk partner program for accelerating customer success. Through this partnership, Siena is able to build powerful applications for supply chain operations that improve data accessibility, enable simple monitoring of inventory, and share business insights. Siena’s flagship solution, Siena Insights, captures data in the warehouse through sensors at the tunnel and facility levels, while gathering learning insights with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI). The result is end-to-end visibility into the entire distribution lifecycle and the elimination of inventory guesswork. Siena Insights, built on the Splunk Enterprise platform, will utilize the company’s observability and data monitoring capabilities to develop applications that provide customers with greater visibility into their warehouse operations by leveraging images and data. The outcome is a first-of-its-kind sensor-agnostic solution that captures information across the entire supply chain for actionable package intelligence. Through this partnership with Splunk, Siena has enabled leading retail and parcel shipping organizations to take advantage of big data analytics and flexible AI deployments at the edge. “In today’s economic climate, gaining real-time visibility into warehouse operations is more important than ever,” said John Dwinell, Founder and CEO of Siena Analytics. “This partnership allows us access to Splunk’s powerful observability and data monitoring platform to build applications that give warehouses greater insight into what’s taking place at their facilities. The result is software that marries data and images to enable package intelligence.” Partnerverse allows logistics companies to ensure their organizations are secure, resilient, and innovative by removing barriers between data and action to enhance observability and empower IT and security teams. The Partnerverse program helps Splunk partners deliver value to customers and accelerate their own growth while expanding the Splunk partner practice.
KION North America expands territory with dealer partner Granite Industrial Trucks, LLC
KION North America announces territory expansion with dealer partner Granite Industrial Trucks, recently acquired by parent company BMH Equipment LLC. Granite Industrial Trucks, LLC’s expanded territory covers central Massachusetts and Rhode Island, including a new location in their established Massachusetts territory. Granite Industrial Trucks, LLC currently serves areas throughout New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine and is authorized to sell and service KION North America’s entire portfolio of Linde Material Handling and Baoli brands. “We are proud of our partnership with Granite Industrial Trucks, LLC and their expansion into the Northeast,” said Rick Schiel, Director of Distribution Management. “This organization has a long history of being a trusted material handling resource for its customer’s needs. We are excited about this opportunity, including establishing a new location to support this growth while providing a portfolio of exceptional solutions for its customers.” Granite Industrial Trucks, LLC has over 45 years of experience in the material handling industry and continues to offer dependable new and used forklift sales, rentals, and maintenance for its customers. That commitment has earned Granite Industrial Trucks the reputation of a trusted source for customizing solutions for each customer’s specific needs. “We are excited to expand our relationship with KION North America and look forward to bringing the entire portfolio of the Linde Material Handling and Baoli brands to customers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” said James Wiese, President of BMH Equipment LLC.