Dematic
| File:Dematic logo.svg | |
| Industry | Material handling, Logistics automation, Software |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Michael Larsson (President, KION Executive Board Member) |
Number of employees | more than 10,000 worldwide |
Dematic is a U.S.-based provider specializing in materials handling solutions, software, and related services. Achieving a 21.2% increase in growth during 2021, Dematic secured its position as the second-largest global supplier in the materials handling sector, with revenues reaching $3.2 billion. The organization employs a workforce exceeding 10,000 individuals and maintains engineering and manufacturing operations in countries including the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, Belgium, China, Italy, Spain, France, Lithuania, and the Czech Republic. Its clientele ranges from small businesses to multinational corporations across six continents.
Since November 2016, Dematic has operated as a subsidiary of the KION Group. The company’s main office is situated in Atlanta, Georgia.
History
Dematic’s roots trace back to 1819 in Wetter, Germany, originating with Mechanische Werkstätten Harkort & Co., which later became part of Deutsche Maschinenbau-Aktiengesellschaft (Demag) in 1910. In 1973, Mannesmann acquired Demag. The establishment of Mannesmann Demag Fördertechnik AG followed Mannesmann’s 1992 acquisition of U.S.-based Rapistan. The product range was broadened in 1993 through the acquisition of Australian racking manufacturer Colby. The firm was renamed Mannesmann Dematic AG in 1997 before being purchased by Siemens in 2001 and merged with Siemens logistics to form Siemens Dematic AG. In 2006, Siemens spun off its industrial logistics division as Dematic GmbH & Co. KG, with the majority ownership transferred to investment firm Triton.
On December 28, 2012, private equity groups AEA Investors LP and Teachers' Private Capital (Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan) acquired Dematic from Triton. Manufacturing operations were shifted from Grand Rapids to Monterrey, Mexico, in February 2016 to enhance global efficiency.
In June 2016, KION Group announced its intention to acquire Dematic for approximately $2.1 billion, completing the acquisition by November that year. The integration of Egemin Automation in March 2017 positioned Dematic as a prominent provider of automated guided vehicle (AGV) technology.
Michael Larsson assumed the role of President in January 2024 following Hasan Dandashly's retirement. To bolster its footprint across Asia and the Middle East, Dematic inaugurated new offices in Taoyuan City, Taiwan (April 2024), targeting retail, e-commerce, and logistics industries, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (December 2024), enhancing regional service capabilities.
Acquisitions
On September 15, 2010, Dematic Group finalized the purchase of HK Systems, a North American supplier specializing in automated material handling equipment and software. This acquisition expanded Dematic’s manufacturing capabilities within the United States to include storage and retrieval systems, automated guided vehicles, conveyors, sortation solutions, and order fulfillment technologies.
In January 2015, Dematic bolstered its European portfolio by acquiring SDI Group Europe, gaining expertise in garment-on-hanger systems and flat sorter technologies.
November 2015 marked the announcement of Dematic’s acquisition of Reddwerks Corp., advancing its warehouse execution system (WES) software offerings; the deal closed in December that year.
March 2016 saw the addition of NDC Automation to Dematic’s global operations—a company based in Australia providing automated guided vehicles and related software solutions.
In March 2020, Dematic further enhanced its logistics software portfolio by acquiring Digital Applications International (DAI) for an estimated $134 million.
Business segments
Dematic caters to a diverse range of industries, including e-commerce, grocery food and beverage, general retail, wholesale distribution, manufacturing, apparel, parcel logistics, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors, third-party logistics (3PL), as well as document management through integrated or automated library solutions.
Products and services
Dematic is focused on the development and production of material handling solutions such as automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), conveyor systems, sortation technologies, and order picking equipment. The company also offers expert consulting and design services aimed at enhancing supply chain efficiency. Its software portfolio features warehouse management systems alongside tools that improve material movement and enable paperless order fulfillment. Moreover, Dematic provides customer support services including technical facility operations, maintenance programs, and comprehensive enterprise asset management, underscoring its commitment to delivering fully integrated product and service offerings.