Chicago, Ill.— Siemens Dematic AG (Nuremberg, Germany) announced at a July 17 press conference the formation of Siemens Dematic Corp. (Grand Rapids, Mich.) from the former Rapistan Systems, a division of Mannesmann Dematic and Siemens Production and Logistics Systems. The combined firm represents more than $4.2 billion in sales and more than 21,000 employees worldwide.

The new company's current and projected performance was presented by Dr. Dietmar Straub, Siemens Dematic AG's president and ceo. Dr. Edward Krubasik, Siemens AG's corporate executive committee member and chairman of Siemens Dematic AG's supervisory board, spoke about the reasoning behind the acquisition. He expects both parts of the new company to bring synergies on the technology end to logistics automation—now the strongest growth sector in the automation market.

United Stationers Supply Co. (Carol Stream, Ill.) uses a Zone Routing computer system from Siemens Dematic Corp. (Grand Rapids, Mich.) at its distribution centers to move cartons only to zones with product to be picked, which allows increased flow through the overall warehouse system.

Siemens Dematic states that it's the leading supplier of material handling and logistics automation systems, providing solutions in air cargo, automotive, baggage handling, manufacturing, post and package sorting, and other manufacturing automation environments. It adds that it provides complete, end-to-end solutions from concept to completion.

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