FKI Logistex powers ahead

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 6/1/2000

"FKI Logistex is a technical problem solver that gives end users greater control over materials handling projects," said company president Dave Martin at a NA 2000 press conference.

Until just recently, FKI Logistex was primarily a conveyor company in the U.S. However, recent acquisitions have broadly expanded the company's offerings. Today, with more than $750 million in sales, FKI Logistex includes Alvey, Buschman, Crisplant, Davco, Mathews, Real Time Solutions, SNE Systems, and White. Materials handling equipment ranges from carousels and conveyors to pick-to-light systems.

Martin went on to say that FKI Logistex does, as standard procedure, go outside its own materials handling portfolio to complete major systems. The three major markets the company is currently focusing on are e-commerce, freight/parcel handling, and baggage handling. Lead companies in these areas are Buschman (e-commerce), Davco (parcels), and Crisplant (baggage).

In fact, recent installations were featured at the press conference. In a matter of months, Buschman, Crisplant, and Real Time Solutions teamed up to combine conveyors, sortation, and pick-to-light systems, respectively, at the new Amazon.com facilities.

And even though those warehouses started up only a short time before the holiday season, Amazon. com was able to ship 99% of the orders it received during that time. In addition, the online leader was one of the few dot coms still taking and filling new orders the week before Christmas.

Three new products were also introduced. A system known as One-Touch Distribution mixes horizontal carousels with pick-to-light and sortation. A new powerstrip eliminates traditional powercords. And the S3000 series of sortation systems features improved performance, flexibility, and reliability.