Hot Mix: Industry News from Wirtgen, WSA, Bergkamp & More

Deere to Buy Wirtgen

Deere has announced plans to acquire the Wirtgen Group, a leading global supplier of road construction equipment. Deere plans to maintain the Wirtgen Group’s existing brands, management, manufacturing footprint, employees and distribution network. The combined business is expected to benefit from sharing best practices in distribution, manufacturing and technology as well as in scale and efficiency of operations.

“The acquisition of the Wirtgen Group aligns with our long-term strategy to expand in both of John Deere’s global growth businesses of agriculture and construction,” said Samuel R. Allen, Deere & Company chairman and chief executive officer. “Wirtgen’s superb reputation, strong customer relationships and demonstrated financial performance are attractive as we expand the reach of John Deere construction equipment to more customers, markets, and geographies.”

Headquartered in Germany, the Wirtgen Group has five premium brands across the entire road construction sector spanning milling, processing, mixing, paving, compaction and rehabilitation. Wirtgen’s highly complementary product portfolio enhances Deere’s existing construction equipment offering and establishes Deere as an industry leader in global road construction. The Wirtgen Group has a global footprint with approximately 8,000 employees and sells products in more than 100 countries through a large network of company-owned and independent dealers.

“This transaction enhances our global distribution options in construction equipment and enhances our capabilities in emerging markets," said Max Guinn, President of Deere’s Worldwide Construction & Forestry Division. "Spending on road construction and transportation projects has grown at a faster rate than the overall construction industry and tends to be less cyclical. There is recognition globally that infrastructure improvements must be a priority and roads and highways are among the most critical in need of repair and replacement.”

“The Wirtgen Group has a legacy of technology and innovation with market-leading products and a strong focus on the customer," said Stefan Wirtgen, managing director at Wirtgen. "As we looked to the future, we specifically chose Deere as the buyer because of our long-held respect for the organization and our full confidence that Deere is dedicated to the ongoing success of The Wirtgen Group and our employees worldwide.”

The companies said they expect to close on the transaction in the first quarter of Deere’s 2018 fiscal year.

Sweeper Roundup to Feature Education, Rodeo

The World Sweeping Association (WSA) Sweeper Roundup, which will be held Sept. 15-17 in Kansas City, MO, will feature four educational seminars put on by individuals who average more than 30 years of sweeping industry experience, according to Ranger Kidwell-Ross, WSA executive director.

In addition, Kidwell-Ross said a Sweeper Roundtable will allow contractors to ask questions of WSA’s Contractor Advisory Board members as well as of representatives from at least half-a-dozen sweeper manufacturers and leading industry suppliers.

On Saturday afternoon, Sept. 16, events will be held at Gail’s Harley Davidson, one of the largest H-D dealers in America. Sweepers by Elgin, Global, NiteHawk, Ravo and Schwarze will be on display and available for demonstrations. Kidwell-Ross said the Schwarze Vortex model will be used in a “zany Sweeper Rodeo” designed to test the driving skills of attending contractors. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of areas.

The evening of Sept. 16 the venue will switch to Holsman’s Stables, a 200-acre horse ranch, with a barbecue cookout, hay rides and live music by one of Kansas City’s top bands. The night’s entertainment will also include an appearance by ‘The Sweeper Band,’ made up of sweeping industry musicians, who will perform several sweeping-themed songs based upon familiar tunes from the past.

Proceeds from the Sweeper Roundup benefit WSA’s Memorial Scholarship Fund. Contractors can attend this tax-deductible event for as little as $99/each; event hotel rooms have also been negotiated for $100/night. For more information and to register visit www.WorldSweepingPros.org/roundup/ or contact the WSA office at 866-635-2205 or [email protected].

Sweeper Summit Set for San Antonio

1-800-SWEEPER Nationwide Service Alliance will hold its sixth annual Sweeper Summit 2017, a three-day conference and workshop, Nov. 8-10 at the Hilton Palacio Del Rio in San Antonio, TX. The Palacio Del Rio is in the Hilton Pavilion, an historic building located along San Antonio’s Riverwalk.

This year’s theme, “More than a Number,” will feature guest speaker Antarctic Mike, a noted sales, leadership, motivational speaker and endurance athlete.

In addition, Sweeper Summit 2017 will focus on benchmarking, best practice presentations by 1-800-SWEEPER partners, roundtable discussions related to the current state of the power sweeping industry and informal sharing and networking. For details visit www.sweepersummit.com or contact Carolyn Bell, [email protected]; phone: 419-464-0130.

Cascade Asphalt Joins STAR

STAR Inc., Columbus, OH, has added Cascade Asphalt Sealing Co., Tacoma, WA, as a STAR Technology Licensing Partner, according to Girish Dubey, STAR Inc. president.

Established in 1976 by Ron Jensen, Cascade Asphalt Sealing manufactures pavement sealers and a broad range of pavement maintenance products, which it markets under the brand name Armorseal. Cascade Asphalt distributes its products throughout Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Alaska, and British Columbia (Canada).

“The technical partnership between STAR and Cascade will enable the companies to serve the entire contagious United States and their international affiliates,” Dubey said.

For details visit www.starseal.com or www.armorseal.com.

Rose Paving Opens Canadian Headquarters

Rose Paving, Bridgeview, IL, recently opened its official Canadian headquarters in Sarnia, Ontario.The Canadian division is led by Jon Hillebrandt, director of operations, who brings 10 years of experience to the market, as well as veteran salesperson Andrew Merrick, director of sales.

“For years, we have performed top-quality work in Canada. Now, with the new headquarters, we can finally bring Rose Paving’s quality service and expertise to this market in an official and widespread capacity,” Hillebrandt said. “Perhaps most of all, we’re excited to develop new collaborative relationships, because that’s what our company and our work is built on.”

Rose Paving also has business units in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and Tampa.

Bergkamp Celebrates 40 Years

Bergkamp Inc., Salina, KS, is celebrating its 40-year anniversary this year as a leading global manufacturer of pavement preservation equipment. Established in 1977 by founders Melvin (Mel) and Marjorie Bergkamp, the company entered the pavement preservation world in 1980 when a local contractor, Ballou Construction, asked Mel Bergkamp and others to build a continuous paver for micro-surfacing. Bergkamp designed and built the paver, and the company has been manufacturing pavement maintenance equipment ever since.

Bergkamp manufactures slurry and micro-surfacing pavers, including the world’s only full-size continuous micro-surfacing paver. The company also offers two models of truck-mounted pavers – the M2 and M3 series – as well as mobile support units and spreader boxes. In addition, Bergkamp manufactures pothole patching equipment, including the FP5 All-In-One Flameless Pothole Patcher and the SP5 Spray Injection Patcher. Bergkamp’s exclusive EMCAD System for its M1E and M3 Series pavers increases production by reducing calibration time and simplifying production adjustments. Bergkamp’s InPave^® Pothole Management System helps government agencies and contractors better monitor and manage pothole patching programs. The company’s MAXX line of truck-mounted Frictional Mastic Surface Treatment Applicators, introduced in 2016, allows users to apply premixed treatments over highways, roads, parking lots, and airport runways. All of Bergkamp’s pavement preservation line of equipment is engineered and manufactured at its state-of-the-art Salina, Kansas, facility.

In 2016, Bergkamp formed a strategic alliance with DenimoTECH A/S, a Denmark-based company with more than 30 years of experience in the manufacture of high-performance emulsion equipment, to form its Bergkamp Bituminous Solutions (BBS) division. The BBS division markets, sells, and supports a full range of DenimoTECH asphalt emulsion mills and plants, polymer-modified asphalt blending mills and plants, crumb rubber blending plants, laboratory plants, storage tanks, and mixers.