Gebhardt Group acquires the traditional British company, European Conveyor Systems LTD

Sinsheim 04th, February 2013 - For more than 60 years, the Gebhardt Fördertechnik GmbH stands for innovative internal material handling solutions and not only in Germany but around the world. "In order to maintain and even further expand this, it is important that we are able to rely on our worldwide partners," said Marco Gebhardt, director of Gebhardt Fördertechnik GmbH. The British company, European Conveyor Systems Ltd (ECS), based in Nottingham, has been distributing the entire Gebhardt product range in the UK and Ireland since 1992 . Within this successful collaboration over 20 years, the two family owned businesses have developed a close partnership. Last year, the two companies even celebrated "80 years of intralogistics" together  - 60 years Gebhardt Fördertechnik GmbH and 20 years of European Conveyor Systems Ltd (ECS).

As of 1 January this year, the Gebhardt Group holds 100 percent of the British company European Conveyor Systems Ltd. ECS, whose product portfolio matches and compliments that of Gebhardt Fördertechnik. The entire ECS team will remain on board with its approximately 20 employees from the areas of sales, production, installation, control system design and service. Marco Gebhardt commented, "Never change a winning team." In the future, ECS will be linked directly to the head office in Sinsheim and has direct access to all master data and technical information. Management of ECS will remain as is with John Bower, Managing Partner of the British company, supported by Terry Pullen as Managing Director. As their direct contact to the head office, Volker Nikolai, director of international sales (U.S., UK, Middle East) will compliment their team from Gebhardt Fördertechnik.

Gebhardt has for more than 20 years of international expansion in collaboration with various offices and partners. Especially in recent years, the worldwide sales activities have rapidly expanded. "The current international revenue is about 35 percent and should be expanded in the coming years to around 50 percent, this is why we place emphasis on international cooperation," said Fritz Gebhardt, managing partner of the Gebhardt Group.