Vanderlande has announced the acquisition of Smatec GmbH with immediate effect as a key part of its ongoing strategy of profitable growth. The takeover of the German company extends Vanderlande’s product portfolio creating a knowledge center for new product development in its key markets. Smatec has over 25 years of experience in the development of warehouse automation technology and concepts. The Bielefeld-based company’s primary focus is to develop innovative warehouse automation systems in many variations, such as the pocket sorter.

The modular state-of-the-art Bombay sorter will be the first Smatec product added to Vanderlande’s extensive range of solutions for the warehouse automation market. This has been designed to be utilized either as a Bombay (for single items) or tilt-tray (for shoeboxes, as an example) sorter. It also comes equipped with such market-leading features as a small footprint and low cost per item, as well as a scalable investment and size.

Vanderlande’s CEO, Govert Hamers, says, “The acquisition of Smatec fits perfectly within Vanderlande’s business development strategy and supports the ambitious plan to increase our presence in key warehouse automation market segments. The Bombay sorter is a good example of the new opportunities that this takeover brings to our impressive and expanding portfolio of integrated systems.”

The knowledge and expertise of Smatec’s former owner and founder, Ralf Schneuing, and his experienced team have been secured by Vanderlande as part of the acquisition. After the planned introduction of the flat sorter, the company’s R&D activities will be focused on developing products for the fashion market on a step-by-step basis, resulting in a complete portfolio of hanging sorter solutions.

“The takeover by Vanderlande gives the existing Smatec team the opportunity to develop products on an even larger scale,” says Schneuing. “It also provides us with greater capacity for the future innovation of new products with a primary focus on hanging sorter solutions.”