Swisslog Buys Swedish Manufacturer Accalon


Buchs/Aarau: Swisslog has purchased Accalon, a leading manufacturer of conveyor systems and stacker cranes for warehouses and distribution centers, for an undisclosed sum.

"The acquisition of Accalon enables us to increase our competitiveness in the area of less complex projects, where conveyor systems and stacker cranes account for a large part of the added value," says Remo Brunschwiler, Swisslog's CEO. "As a supplier of integrated logistics solutions we had to purchase the hardware components from third parties. This regularly left us at a competitive disadvantage in that market segment."

The purchase of Accalon represents a major contribution to the strategy of Swisslog's warehouse and distribution solutions division, which offers innovative and economic logistics solutions for automated warehouses and distribution centers.

In addition, the acquisition will advance the production of conveyor systems in China where Accalon already has a manufacturing site. Swisslog also expects the realization of synergies in the Scandinavian customer support business.

Over the last years, Accalon has successfully developed its business (stacker cranes, conveyor systems and related control systems) with other system integrators as well. Boxholm-based Accalon employs some 140 staff and achieved sales of about MCHF 55 in 2006.

The two companies know each other well since Accalon used to be part of the Swisslog Group from 1994-2000. Business relationships remained close even after Accalon split up from Swisslog in late 2000 by means of a management buy-out: in fiscal year 2006, Swisslog accounted for roughly 70 percent of the former subsidiary's sales.

The current management team will continue to lead the company.

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