The Heico Companies LLC has announced the acquisition of Ancra Systems B.V., a leader in the field of automatic truck loading and unloading systems (ATLS).
Headquartered in Boxtel, Netherlands, Ancra Systems is one of only a few global specialists in its field and expands Heico holdings of cargo management entities. Heico is the parent holding company for a portfolio of more than 36 businesses involved in manufacturing, construction and industrial services, including Ancra International, Kinedyne, S-Line and Wistra.
“This acquisition will bring advanced loading system technology to the North American trucking and material handling sectors and extend the advantages of automation throughout the warehouse, to the docks and into the trailers,” said Steve Frediani, president and CEO of the Heico’s Ancra platform. “The addition of Ancra Systems positions Heico as a global player in the automated cargo management, loading, control and unloading space.”
Loading and unloading a 53-foot trailer with palletized cargo can commonly take between 30 and 45 minutes using a forklift. By contrast, loading and unloading a trailer using one of several automated systems from Ancra Systems can be accomplished in about three minutes. The company offers two systems that require no trailer-mounted equipment interface. The Skate Loader and Load Runner Plus enable users to gain the advantages of ATLS without any need to upfit or retrofit trailers.
“Automation and the efficiencies it brings has already permeated many dimensions of manufacturing and warehouse operations in Europe and North America,” Marc Hezemans, managing director for Ancra Systems B.V., said. “The difference is that many European operations have been enjoying the additional benefits of our automated truck loading and unloading systems for more than 20 years.”
The most likely candidates for the company’s system applications are manufacturers or distributors of high-volume, relatively standardized products operating in closed-loop environments, just-in-time scenarios and certain one-way loading applications. Industries include trucking, logistics, material handling, food, beverage, cold chain and a wide variety of manufacturers, particularly tier-one and tier-two suppliers in close proximity to customers.
“We are excited to bring our automatic loading and unloading systems to the North American market, and we expect to have our North American sales and technical support in position by the end of the first quarter of 2017,” said Marcel Berkers, sales director for Ancra Systems B.V. “We’ve watched these systems positively change industries around the world, and we expect the same thing to occur here in North America as well.”
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