Systems supplier Westfalia Technologies has merged with Deam Company, a Toronto-based maker of packaging and materials handling equipment for the food and dairy industries. The merger creates Deam Systems, a new division of Westfalia.

Fred Beer, former president of Deam Company, leads the new division, which focuses on case packing, empty case handling, palletizing systems and other packaging and materials handling systems.

"This merger with Westfalia provides a perfect fit for our Deam equipment line," says Beer, adding that the two companies have often worked as partners during the past 10 years.

"By integrating the technologies and product lines of our two companies," says Daniel Labell, Westfalia president, "Westfalia will be a formidable materials handling and packaging systems provider, delivering end-to-end solutions."

Operations personnel from Westfalia and Deam are forming one larger team, with all equipment being manufactured at Westfalia's plant and headquarters in York, Pa.