Cascade Corporation has acquired Hagen, Germany-based FEMA Forks, a major supplier of forks (lifting tynes) to Europe's forklift manufacturing industry.

Financial details of the acquisition, which was settled on March 31, were not released.

The FEMA acquisition complemented Cascade's position as the world's largest manufacturer of materials handling devices, a statement said. Cascade is already Europe's largest fork manufacturer, with factories in the United Kingdom, France and Italy.

FEMA's management and employees, including founders Wolfgang Felgenhauer and Udo Machelett-Emden, would join Cascade.

"Mr Felgenhauer and Mr Machelett-Emden have developed a highly innovative manufacturing process and business model," the statement said. "We are very fortunate to have them join our management team."

Mr Felgenhauer will become director of OEM marketing for Europe and Mr Machelett-Emden will continue as FEMA's director of production.