January 2002 ushered in the inception of a new member of the F.L. Smidth Group: F.L. Smidth Materials Handling, which will provide the cement and other process industries with customized projects ranging from crushers, feeders and conveyors to stackers/reclaimers, silos and ship unloaders/loaders. The new company offers the materials handling market a portfolio of products and solutions for any type of bulk material: lumpy, powdery, sticky, wet or dry. An additional option is complete port terminal solutions with all equipment, engineering and civil design provided by the new entity and its partners in the F.L. Smidth Group.

F.L. Smidth Materials Handling brings together the resources and expertise of Fuller-Kovako in Holland; H.W. Carlsen in Sweden; Möller-Fuller, Motan-Fuller and MVT in Germany; and F.L. Smidth's Materials Handling Department in Denmark. Each member of the new corporate set-up continues to market and develop its brands, while benefitting from the expertise available across the global organization.

Karl F. Ehlers has been appointed managing director for Aumund Fördertechnik, effective Jan. 1, 2002. He joins Thomas Bähr, responsible for product administration and production, at the head of the company. Accordingly, Ehlers' duties will encompass sales, after-sales service, and research and development. Given his proven track record in strengthening the impact of Aumund products, Ehlers stands to accelerate the company's progress in achieving its priorities — a global presence as well as improved efficiency and increased sales in all target areas.

In a move aimed at expanding product offering and strengthening market position, Schenck AccuRate, Inc. announced it has acquired the assets of its former competitor, SolidsFlow, Inc. Since 1975, South Carolina-based SolidsFlow, Inc. has been marketing dry material feeders, bin dischargers and material spreading systems based on louvered vibratory technology. Currently, efforts are under way to move industry, manufacturing and material testing functions for the SolidsFlow products to Schenck AccuRate's headquarters in Whitewater, Wis. A sales and service office will be maintained in South Carolina.

The SolidsFlow name will continue to be used as a product family name. The various products will be sold by both the AccuRate and Schenck Weighing Systems units of Schenck AccuRate, Inc.