Which organization is cited as the precursor to the automation giant Dematic?

Demag

Demag is identified as the historical precursor organization whose German engineers developed the foundational concepts for what would become modern Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS). While Demag itself is not the modern entity, it represents the originating engineering effort leading directly to the large automation firm Dematic. This pioneering work centered on mechanical solutions to utilize vertical space, a radical departure from the prevailing horizontal, forklift-dependent warehousing methods common before the mid-20th century. The initial breakthroughs concerning mechanized access to elevated storage established the fundamental architectural principles that subsequent systems built upon, making Demag the critical starting point for this technology evolution.