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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Advanced Handling Systems Opens Erlanger, Kentucky, Innovation Lab

07/20/2022
Advanced Handling Systems, a Hy-Tek Material Handling company and leader in full-service integration of automated fulfillment and distribution products, opened its newly renovated innovation space in Erlanger, Kentucky. The $500,000 project is expected to create 35 jobs.

The 20,000-square-foot AHS Innovation Lab on 351 Kenton Lands Road features robotic technology for distribution and fulfillment centers in its demonstration facility, highlighting the company’s latest innovative solutions. Together, Hy-Tek and AHS integrate warehouse robotic systems such as autonomous mobile robots and collaborative robotic arms.

“With Hy-Tek’s acquisition of AHS, we are thrilled to be a part of Kentucky’s techno-focused growth,” said Dave Tavel Sr., vice president of sales at AHS. “We’ve observed the increased activity of robotic training in the easternmost part of the state. The environment in Northern Kentucky and the growth in logistics led us to locate our innovation lab near our corporate office. The future of our industry will rely on the emerging technologies that we integrate, test and evaluate within our lab. We will continuously review new and better ways to solve our customers’ challenges. It’s an exciting time for our industry, and we are thrilled to call Kentucky home.”

Established in 1967, AHS works with customers within the material handling sector to assess needs for and implement automated technology across industries such as e-commerce, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, retail, food and beverage and wholesale operations. Earlier this year, AHS was acquired by Hy-Tek Holdings, a material handling automation integrator that maintains a separate facility in Hebron. Hy-Tek, founded in 1963, is based in Columbus, Ohio, and employs 550 people across 10 U.S. locations.

“As we work toward building an economy that works for all Kentuckians, high-tech job opportunities will play an increased role in those efforts,” said Governor Andy Beshear. “This investment by AHS and Hy-Tek is creating quality jobs in Northern Kentucky and supporting distribution and logistics growth, which is one of our state’s thriving key industries. Thank you to the company leaders for their commitment to the Commonwealth. I look forward to seeing what’s next for AHS and Hy-Tek in Kentucky.”

The newly renovated innovation lab builds on Kentucky’s thriving logistics and distribution sector. Since the start of the Beshear administration, companies within the sector announced more than 5,600 full-time, Kentucky-resident jobs across more than 90 facility expansion and new-location projects with $605 million in private-sector investment in the commonwealth.

“The AHS innovation lab is a unique asset in Northern Kentucky,” added Lee Crume, president and CEO of Northern Kentucky Tri-ED. “We welcome AHS and are enthusiastic about their relationships with Northern Kentucky University and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College to provide student interns exposure and experience with their sophisticated systems.”

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