FKI Logistex of Danville, Ky., has purchased Cleco Group, Ltd. for $32.2 million. Cleco is based in the United Kingdom with operations in the Netherlands and the United States.

Cleco manufactures automated and man-up storage and retrieval machines that are used in high-bay storage applications. Cleco subsidiary Io Systems produces software and warehouse control systems.

"Cleco is a good fit for us from a technological view," said Dave Martin, president of FKI Logistex (www.fkilogistex.com). "There is no overlap with our current products." FKI's products include carousels, conveyors, pick-to-light systems, sortation equipment and palletizers.

Martin said Cleco will be integrated into a full systems strategy that will be marketed under the FKI Logistex brand. FKI plc, an international engineering group based in the United Kingdom, is currently the world's second-largest materials handling system supplier.

The acquisition also will allow FKI to expand internationally.