Equipment Report

Metso to acquire American recycling equipment makers

Finland-based Metso Corp. has signed an agreement to acquire construction and demolition materials equipment makers Diamond Z and Screen Machine Industries for an undisclosed value from Crane Group, an Ohio-based, family-owned investment firm.

The Diamond Z product line increases Metso’s offerings in mobile equipment for the organic recycling markets. The company makes equipment to process land-clearing debris and scrap wood into marketable products.

Screen Machine offers heavy-duty machines for various aggregate crushing and screening applications.

Combined, the companies employ approximately 190 people, with Diamond Z based in Caldwell, Idaho, and Screen Machine in Etna, Ohio.

According to Metso, the companies will continue to operate independently within the Metso Materials Processing Products business line once the transaction closes.

“We are very happy to welcome Diamond Z and Screen Machine Industries to the Metso group of companies,” says Markku Simula, president of Metso’s Aggregates business area. “Diamond Z allows us to extend our offering in the growing infrastructure recycling equipment market, and the Diamond Z mobile grinders portfolio provides a great addition to our Materials Processing Products offering.

“Screen Machine Industries enhances our mobile crushing and screening offering and further strengthens our position as one of the leading providers in the field,” Simula adds.

Diamond Z manufactures high-quality and durable mobile and portable grinders for the infrastructure recycling sector, Metso says. The company’s product line consists of a range of high-speed grinders to suit varying needs, including land clearing, construction and demolition, composting, tire disposal and more.

Develon opens customization plant

Develon, a Suwanee, Georgia-based construction equipment manufacturer, has opened its new customization plant, where Develon machines will be finalized for dealers and customers. The grand opening of the North American Customization Plant in Brunswick, Georgia, was Sept. 4.

Develon opened the new, larger customization center in collaboration with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a Norway-based shipping and logistics company, and Develon executives were joined by Wallenius Wilhelmsen representatives for the grand opening ceremony.

The Brunswick facility is 50 percent larger than the company’s current customization plant in Savannah, Georgia, and can offer enhanced production capabilities, a dedicated machine storage yard and an expanded indoor warehouse, Develon says.

“Our new customization plant in Brunswick will allow us to expedite our services for our dealers and our customers,” Develon President and CEO Chris Jeong says. “It’s a much larger facility than the previous customization plant, with dedicated space for our machines, and will better meet the custom needs of our dealers and our customers with an array of final assembly options.”

The customization facility is located close to Interstate 95, allowing for convenient transportation when Develon machines are ready for shipment, which the company says will optimize delivery lead times.

Develon maintains its North American headquarters in Suwanee, including a parts distribution center for readily available machine parts.

Photo courtesy of Rotochopper Inc.

Rotochopper cuts ribbon on R&D facility

Rotochopper Inc. has completed the expansion project at its headquarters in St. Martin, Minnesota, including a portion of the space hosting its new Research and Development Innovation Center.

Rotochopper says the expansion marks a significant milestone in the company’s ongoing commitment to innovation, customer-focused solutions and growth.

The 12,000-square-foot expansion includes additional production space that Rotochopper says significantly will increase its manufacturing capabilities, plus additional office space.

The R&D-focused square footage will allow Rotochopper’s engineering and R&D teams to continue driving innovation, ensuring they remain at the forefront of technological advancements, the company says.

Rotochopper says its status as a factory-direct company gives it a deep understanding of the unique challenges its customers face, and this R&D space will be essential in creating the tailored solutions that recycling businesses need.

“The new R&D space not only accelerates our innovation efforts but also creates an environment where our team can develop fresh ideas and bring cutting-edge technologies to life,” says Rotochopper CEO Tosh Brinkerhoff. “This expansion aligns with our mission to continually introduce new products to the market, helping our customers become more productive and profitable.”

Rotochopper is a designer, builder and support provider of a complete line of horizontal grinders, wood chip processors, shredders, screening equipment, conveyors and mobile bagging equipment.

Kinshofer acquires Dutch attachments maker

Germany-based Kinshofer GmbH has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Netherlands-based GMT Equipment B.V.

The move follows approximately three months after the Kinshofer acquisition of Eurosteel B.V., another Netherlands-based hydraulic attachments maker.

The GMT Equipment transaction marks a continuing pattern of acquisitions for Kinshofer, a 50-year-old manufacturer of tools for truck-mounted cranes, excavators and skid-steer loaders.

In addition to Eurosteel, previous acquisitions by Kinshofer have included Liftall Inc. of Canada; Demarec B.V. of the Netherlands; RF System AB of Sweden; Auger Torque Group, with operations in the United Kingdom, Australia and China; Solesbee’s LLC, based in the United States; the Doherty Group, with operations in New Zealand and Australia; Hammer Srl, Cangini Benne Srl and Trevi Benne SpA, all based in Italy; Prolec Ltd. of the U.K.; and HGT Greifer-Technologie GmbH of Germany.

Kinshofer says the acquisition of GMT Equipment is significant because it strengthens the company’s portfolio of crane attachments, where it already has a market-leading position.

“With this move, Kinshofer further demonstrates its commitment to being a global leader in attachments to the crane, excavator and wheel loader industries,” according to the company.

GMT Equipment, established in 1998 as a family business, focuses on the development and marketing of tree removal and tree care attachments.

Kinshofer is a member company of Sweden-based Lifco AB, and the attachment maker’s growing global footprint includes subsidiaries in Germany, the Netherlands, the U.K., Canada, the U.S., France, Austria, the Czech Republic, the People’s Republic of China, Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia and Italy.