LOGISTICS BRIEFS

Cost-cutting, cold storage construction trends and technologies are a major focus of the 30th AnnualInternational Association for Cold Storage and Construction(IACSC) Conference and Expo, Nov. 4-7, 2010 at the Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio, Texas.

Ted Speas, senior vice president of facilities and automation forC&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc., will deliver a keynote speech about trends in the construction of cold storage facilities.Forbesmagazine has listed C&S Wholesale Grocers, Keene, N.H., is the nation's largest food wholesaler, which distributes food to supermarkets, retail stores, and military bases. For more information and to register, visit www.iacsc.org/conference.



Material handling equipment giantDematic Group, Grand Rapids, Mich., said it completed its purchase of industry competitorHK Systems Inc., New Berlin, Wis. Officials said John K. Baysore, chief executive officer, Dematic North America, will lead the newly combined company's U.S. and Canadian operations. The newly combined company will be called Dematic with its North American headquarters in Grand Rapids.

Said Baysore, “The combined company will provide enhanced material flow solutions to improve our customers’ supply chain per-formance while increasing their service levels and profitability. Our goal is to deliver seamless end-to-end solutions for diversified vertical markets from manufacturing to distribution. In addition, the acquisition combines two powerful customer service infrastructures to deliver the industry’s most responsive and dependable integrated material handling systems support.”



Refrigerated transportation providerC.R. England Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah, said it hiredDavid Krameras  executive vice president, corporate sales. Officials said Kramer has more than 25 years of transportation experience and most recently was president of Milan Express LTL Services, Milan, Tenn. 


Material handling and racking equipment supplierSteel King Industries Inc., Stevens Point, Wis., said it hiredPeter Riceas vice president of sales. Rice previously was Steel King's Northeast representative. He has 24 years sales experience in the material handling and electrical industries, the company said.