J-tec Industries announces partnership with K. Hartwall

J-tec Industries, manufacturer of tugger cart systems and other material handling solutions, and K.Hartwall, a Finland-based logistics processes solutions provider, have announced an exclusive distribution partnership to expand sales of each company’s material handling solutions internationally.

J-tec will continue its direct sales focus in North America and Canada and K.Hartwall will focus on growth in Europe and China, with additional activity in Mexico, according to J-tec officials. J-tec was founded in 2005 in East Peoria, Ill., and made its mark in the material handling industry by designing custom returnable containers and shipping racks, primarily for the construction equipment, industrial mining and agricultural manufacturing industries. It has since diversified its offerings and markets, largely focusing sales efforts on its own patented mechanical CarryMore mother/daughter tugger cart system.

Both companies currently have customers in multiple continents and look to expand into each other’s geographic base. J-tec has 166,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities in three buildings in East Peoria.

K. Hartwall was founded in 1932 in Söderkulla, Finland, and delivers solutions including returnable load carriers and services around them for companies in retail, dairy, beverage, logistics and lean manufacturing.

“We met K. Hartwall in Atlanta in April, 2016 at MODEX when we formally introduced the CarryMore system to the world,” said Jon Peterson, J-tec president and co-founder. “After many discussions comparing growth strategies, market strengths, company cultures and more, we agreed that this was a perfect partnership to help both companies grow. We now are making plans to expand our manufacturing to Europe, China and Mexico.”

K. Hartwall CEO Vesa Tempakka added, “We are very pleased with our new partnership with J-tec Industries. Their CarryMore products are unique in the industry and give us a quality and price-point edge on the hydraulic and pneumatic systems sold in our markets today. We share similar goals to facilitate efficient, Lean solutions to improve distribution processes in manufacturing locations. We are also pleased that J-tec will assist us in growing our product offerings throughout North America with their outstanding customer base and sales expertise.”