Associated, Peach State acquisition completed

Associated, a material handling distributor and consulting company, has completed its acquisition of Peach State Integrated Technologies, a supply chain consulting company and automated material handling systems integrator.

The acquisition was first announced in November and was completed on Feb. 28.

Michael Romano, president and CEO of Associated, and James R. Bowes, president of Peach State, discussed the deal during a press conference at Modex this week.

Peach State will continue to operate independently as a subsidiary of Associated, said Bowes, who will continue as the company's president. Romano will become CEO of the combined firms.

Both executives said they believed the combination of the two companies would create one of the largest supply chain providers in the United States. Romano said customers of the firms were increasingly looking at automation for their distribution centers and that the combined strengths of the two firms offered both strategic and tactical advantages to those customers. "Customers are looking for a more comprehensive suite of services," Bowes added.