Vermeer Corporation purchased a minority equity investment in a leading manufacturer of compact articulated loader.
News of the agreement with MultiOne, came on the same day Fecon unveiled its acquisition of Vermeer’s forestry products.
Vermeer’s investment into MultiOne comes a year after they entered a distribution agreement with the company to supply Vermeer-branded loaders through Vermeer dealers across North America and the Caribbean.
The Vermeer models – ranging from 933- to 1,590-lbs operating capacities are manufactured at MultiOne’s facility in Vicenza, Italy. Under the previous agreement, they were made available with select attachments, a full line of parts and service at Vermeer dealerships in select markets.
Compact articulated loaders are becoming another popular option among landscapers instead of a skid steer or compact track loader.
According to the new agreement, distribution of the Vermeer-branded loaders will expand to Vermeer dealers worldwide in 2021.
Doug Hundt, president of Vermeer Industrial Solutions says Vermeer is excited to take the partnership with MultiOne to the next level. “The demand for compact loaders is growing worldwide, and this puts Vermeer in a great position with a lineup of proven products, attachments and dealers to help our customers reduce their labor needs and get more important work done,” he said.
MultiOne will continue under its current leadership in Vicenza, under the majority ownership of global holdings company, Lifco. Distribution of the MultiOne branded models through its existing partners also will continue outside of North America.
Fecon has acquired Vermeer’s forestry mulcher products and announced a global distribution agreement with Vermeer.
Fecon LLCFecon
Fecon Acquires Vermeer Mulching Products
In a separate announcement, Fecon is acquiring Vermeer’s forestry mulcher products - including the model FT100 and FT300 mulching tractors – as well as established a global distribution agreement with Vermeer on a controlled basis throughout 2021. The agreement will give Vermeer dealers access to a product line that incorporates the combined technologies of both companies.
“Adding Fecon engineering and technology will make it easier for customers to buy the equipment best suited to their needs,” said Fecon LLC CEO Bob Dieckman. “With their extensive coverage and high standard of customer support, as well as the professional and strategic Vermeer sales organization, we are certain that both organizations will benefit from the partnership.”
According to Fecon, the distribution strategy will leverage the scope and size of Vermeer dealerships by focusing on market segments with differentiated product needs. It will start the process with a select, yet global group of Vermeer dealers in 2021, as well as strategically specify products and methodically expand from there. Fecon will assume production and support of the Vermeer forestry mulching tractors from its Lebanon, Ohio factory.
Hundt sees the move as a great complement to overall equipment portfolio.
"With a lineup of products that support the land clearing, utility right-of-way and fire mitigation markets, their mulching attachments and tractors will give our dealers a broader portfolio to support those customers we are already working with in those markets,” he said.
