<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10(K)

                              SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

        This SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT is among SI HANDLING SYSTEMS, INC., a 
Pennsylvania corporation, ("SI Handling"), AGV ACQUISITIONS, INC., a Delaware 
Corporation, ("AGV") in its capacity as debtor in possession in Chapter 11 case 
No. 94-22194 MSK now pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the 
District of Colorado (the "Bankruptcy Court") and APOGEE ROBOTICS, INC, a 
Colorado Corporation, ("Apogee") in its capacity as debtor in possession in 
chapter 11 Case No. 94-22193-CEM now pending in the Bankruptcy Court.

                                    RECITALS

        A. Apogee is the parent of and owns all the common stock of AGV. On 
December 9, 1994 both Apogee and AGV filed petitions under Chapter 11 of the 
United States Bankruptcy Code with the Bankruptcy Court.

        B. On January 20, 1995, AGV commenced an adversary proceeding in the 
Bankruptcy Court against SI Handling entitled "AGV Acquisitions, Inc., 
plaintiff v. SI Handling Systems, Inc., defendant, No. 1071 PAC." In this 
proceeding (the "Adversary Proceeding") AGV alleges that SI Handling breached 
its obligations under two agreements: (i) an agreement (the "Asset Purchase 
Agreement") whereby SI Handling agreed to sell to AGV all of SI Handling's 
assets (the "Assets") related to the manufacture and sale of automated guidance 
vehicles and (ii) an agreement (the "Principles of Operation") whereby SI 
Handling retained AGV and Apogee to complete certain contracts for its 
customers. In the Adversary Proceeding AGV seeks a declaratory judgement that 
it, rather than SI Handling, is the owner of and entitled to possession of the 
Assets, and a judgment against SI Handling for at least $2,250,000 for 

<PAGE>   2
alleged breaches of the Asset Purchase Agreement and the Principles of
Operation. SI Handling denies the material allegations of the complaint in the
Adversary Proceeding and asserts counterclaims against AGV. In its
counterclaims, SI Handling alleges that the closing of the sale of the Assets
was to occur in escrow; that the conditions of the escrow were not satisfied
because of AGV's failure to make a payment that was a condition precedent to the
closing; that, as a consequence, ownership of the Assets was never transferred 
to AGV; and that AGV breached its obligations under the Asset Purchase Agreement
and the Principles of Operation. SI Handling seeks a declaratory judgment that
it is the owner of the Assets and damages against AGV for at least $4 million.

        C.  AGV, Apogee and SI Handling have agreed to compromise and settle 
all claims and counterclaims asserted in the Adversary Proceeding pursuant to 
the terms of this Agreement.

                                   AGREEMENT

        In compromise of the Adversary Proceeding and in consideration of the 
matters set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

        1.  A closing (the "Closing") shall be held at the time and in the 
place provided for in paragraph 2 below. At the Closing, the following shall 
occur:

                (a)  SI Handling shall pay AGV $150,000 in cash or certified 
        funds, 
 
                (b)  AGV and Apogee shall execute and deliver to SI Handling a
        Bill of Sale, Assignment and Disclaimer in the form attached hereto as
        Exhibit A, whereby they transfer any right, title or interest that they
        may have in the Assets to SI Handling and disclaim any interest in the
        Assets.

                (c)  SI Handling, on the one hand, and AGV and Apogee, on the
        other, shall execute and deliver a Mutual General Release, in the form
        attached hereto as Exhibit B, of any
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        and all claims that they may have against each other, including without
        limitation, all claims asserted in the Adversary Proceeding and any
        claims related to the Asset Purchase Agreement or the Principles of
        Operation.

                (d)  SI Handling and AGV shall execute a Stipulation of
        Dismissal, in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto, pursuant to which
        they stipulate to dismissal, with prejudice, of all claims and
        counterclaims asserted in the Adversary Proceeding. Promptly after the
        Closing the parties, through their attorneys, shall present that
        stipulation to the Bankruptcy Court for its approval.

        3.  Promptly after the parties sign this agreement, Apogee and AGV 
shall file a motion with the Bankruptcy Court in their jointly administered 
chapter 11 cases requesting authorization to settle and compromise the 
Adversary Proceeding in accordance with the terms of this agreement. Notice of 
the motion shall be given to creditors as required by Rule 2002 of the Federal 
Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and Rule 202 of the Local Rules of Bankruptcy 
Procedure for the Bankruptcy Court. The Closing shall be held at 10:00 A.M. on 
the eleventh day, or, if the eleventh day is a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday, on 
the next business day, after the Bankruptcy Court enters an order, which is 
final in all respects and not subject to appeal, approving this settlement. The 
closing shall be at the offices of Holme Roberts & Owen, Suite 4100, 1700 
Lincoln Street, Denver, Colorado 80203, or at such other place as the parties 
may agree.

        4.  The Parties acknowledge that many of the persons who are listed as 
creditors of AGV on the financial schedules that AGV filed with the Bankruptcy 
Court are listed because AGV agreed in the Asset Purchase Agreement to assume 
those liabilities of SI Handling that were related to SI Handling's automated 
guidance vehicle business. AGV reserves the right to
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object to any creditor's claim on any grounds, including the grounds that AGV 
never assumed the creditor's claims because the closing of the sale of the 
Assets was never consummated.  SI Handling does not, by entering into this 
Agreement or otherwise, acknowledge that it is liable for any claims that have 
been or may be asserted against AGV or Apogee.  SI Handling will not, to the 
extent that it has paid or may pay any claim related to its automated guidance 
vehicle business, assert a claim for reimbursement, indemnity or contribution 
with respect to that claim against AGV or Apogee.

        5.      This Agreement is binding upon and shall inure to the benefit  
of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns; constitutes 
(with its exhibits) the entire agreement and understanding among the parties; 
supersedes all prior oral or written understandings among the parties; may be 
executed in counterparts; may be amended only by a writing signed by all the 
parties hereto; and shall be governed by Colorado law.

        DATED this 12th day of September, 1995

                                               SI Handling Systems, Inc.

                                               By:  /s/ LEONARD S. YURKOVIC
                                                    ---------------------------
                                               Its: President/CEO
                                                    ---------------------------


                                               AGV Acquisitions, Inc.

                                               By:  /s/ JAMES W. JONES
                                                    ---------------------------
                                               Its: President
                                                    ---------------------------


                                               Apogee Robotics, Inc.

                                               By:  /s/ JAMES R. CURRIER
                                                    ---------------------------
                                               Its: President
                                                    ---------------------------
                                                
                                                    
<PAGE>   5
                                   EXHIBIT A

                    ASSIGNMENT, BILL OF SALE AND DISCLAIMER

        This ASSIGNMENT, BILL OF SALE AND DISCLAIMER is from AGV ACQUISITIONS, 
INC. ("AGV") and APOGEE ROBOTICS, INC. ("Apogee") to SI HANDLING SYSTEMS, INC. 
("SI Handling").

        AGV and SI Handling entered into an agreement, dated as of October 5, 
1995, (the "Asset Purchase Agreement") whereby SI Handling agreed to sell to 
AGV all of its assets related to its automated guidance vehicle business (the 
"Purchased Assets") located for the most part in Rochester Hills, Michigan. A 
dispute arose between SI Handling and AGV as to whether SI Handling in fact 
transferred ownership of the Purchased Assets to AGV. In compromise of that 
dispute, AGV has agreed to transfer any right, title or interest that it may 
have in the Purchased Assets to SI Handling and to disclaim any interest in the 
Purchased Assets. Accordingly,

        1. AGV and its parent corporation Apogee, hereby sell, assign, transfer 
and convey to SI Handling any right, title or interest that they may have in 
the Purchased Assets, including, without limitation, any right, title or 
interest that they may have acquired in any property described in any bills of
sale or other documents that were signed in connection with any closing that 
may have occurred of the Asset Purchase Agreement;

        2. AGV and Apogee acknowledge that they have no right, title or 
interest in the Purchased Assets.

        Dated this______day of September, 1995.


                                        AGV Acquisitions, Inc.


                                        By:  /s/ JAMES W. JONES
                                             ----------------------------------


                                        Apogee Robotics, Inc.


                                        By:  /s/ JAMES R. CURRIER
                                             ----------------------------------
<PAGE>   6
STATE OF COLORADO    )
                     )  ss.
COUNTY OF __________ )

        The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this ______ day of 
September, 1995, by _________________________ as ______________________________
of AGV Acquisitions, Inc., a ____________________ corporation, on behalf of such
corporation.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

                                My commission expires: ________________________

[SEAL]
                                _______________________________________________
                                Notary Public


STATE OF COLORADO    )
                     )  ss.
COUNTY OF __________ )

        The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this ______ day of 
September, 1995, by ______________________________ as _______________________
of Apogee Robotics, Inc., a _____________________ corporation, on behalf of such
corporation.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

                                My commission expires: ________________________

[SEAL]
                                _______________________________________________
                                Notary Public


            
<PAGE>   7
                                   EXHIBIT B

                             MUTUAL GENERAL RELEASE

        THIS MUTUAL GENERAL RELEASE is between SI HANDLING SYSTEMS, INC., and 
its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on the 
one hand, ("SI Handling") and AGV ACQUISITIONS, INC. ("AGV") and APOGEE 
ROBOTICS, INC. ("Apogee"), and their respective shareholders, directors, 
officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on the other hand.

                                    RECITAL

        SI Handling, on the one hand, and AGV and Apogee, on the other hand 
(collectively, the "Debtors"), in connection with their Settlement Agreement 
dated September 12, 1995 (the "Agreement"), promised to release one another 
from any claims and causes of action that either might have against the other.

                                    RELEASE

        THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of 
which are hereby acknowledged, SI Handling and the Debtors hereby release one 
another from all claims, debts, demands, causes of action, suits or liabilities 
whatsoever of every kind and nature, whether known or unknown, in law or in 
equity, which either may now have or ever have had against the other prior to 
the date hereof including, without limitation, (i) all claims asserted in 
Adversary Proceeding No. 95-1071-PAC in the United States Bankruptcy Court for 
the District of Colorado, (ii) all claims in any way related to the Asset 
Purchase Agreement, as amended, dated as of October 5, 1995 between SI Handling 
and AGV and (iii) all claims related to that certain agreement between SI 
Handling and Apogee known as the Principles of Operation. Excepted from this 
release is any claim to enforce (but not to rescind) the Agreement.

        This General Release (i) is governed by Colorado law and (ii) is 
binding on the successors and assigns of the parties.

        DATED this __ day of September 1995.

                                   SI HANDLING SYSTEMS, INC.
 
                                   By:  LEONARD S. YURKOVIC
                                        -----------------------------------
                                   Its: President/CEO
                                        -----------------------------------

                                   AGV ACQUISITIONS, INC.
 
                                   By:  JAMES W. JONES
                                        -----------------------------------
                                   Its: Presidents
                                        -----------------------------------
<PAGE>   8
                                APOGEE ROBOTICS, INC.


                                By:  /s/ JAMES R. CURRIER
                                    ------------------------------------
                                Its: President
                                    ------------------------------------


STATE OF COLORADO    )
                     )  ss.
COUNTY OF            )

        The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this ___ day of 
September, 1995, by _______________________ as ____________________________    
of SI Handling Systems, Inc., a_____________________ corporation, on behalf of 
such corporation.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

                                My commission expires: 
                                                      -------------------------
[SEAL]
                                                      -------------------------
                                                      Notary Public
                                                      

STATE OF COLORADO    )
                     )  ss.
COUNTY OF            )

        The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this ___ day of 
September, 1995, by _______________________ as ______________________________   
of AGV Acquisitions, Inc., a __________________ corporation, on behalf of such
corporation.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

                                My commission expires:
                                                      -------------------------
[SEAL]
                                                      -------------------------
                                                      Notary Public


                                       2
<PAGE>   9
STATE OF COLORADO       )
                        ) ss.
COUNTY OF _____________ )


        The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this __ day of 
September, 1995, by ______________________ as ______________________ of Apogee 
Robotics, Inc., a _______________ corporation, on behalf of such corporation.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.


                    My commission expires: 
                                           -----------------------------------

[SEAL]

                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Notary Public


                                       3