Mannesmann Dematic has announced that it has taken over Zasche Fördertechnik of Nördlingen, Germany and Protomark of Clinton Township, Michigan, USA to expand its presence in the ergonomic handling sector. Both of the acquired companies specialise in ergonomic handling equipment.
Nördlingen now becomes the headquarters of Dematic’s international centre of competence for ergonomic handling equipment. The trading name Zasche ergo GmbH has been retained. The Zasche range combined with Dematic’s ergonomic KBK crane construction kit completes the handling system range, the company said.
Zasche ergo offers rigid and flexible guide systems as well as electrical and pneumatic drives with load capacities from just a few kilogrammes up to several tonnes. It has 55 employees and in 1998 had a turnover of DM13.5m ($7.4m).
Dr Helmut Franzen, executive member of the cranes and handling division of Mannesmann Dematic said of the Zasche acquisition: “In my opinion, this sector has great scope for international development due to increasingly stringent material handling regulations at the workplace.
“Ergonomic working methods and safety at the workplace have been top of the list of priorities in many countries for a long time now, thanks to the European Union directive which has already become national law in Germany and in other European countries.” Protomark, founded in 1987 by Joe Tranchida, pioneered and patented the Lynx Manipulating Arm lift assist. Protomark now operates as a division of Mannesmann Dematic Corporation and Joe Tranchida has retained his responsibilities.
Bill Persch, president of Mannesmann Dematic Corporation, said: “We plan to develop a national network and to transfer Dematic’s ergo product activity to Protomark.”
