Vermeer Acquires Horizontal Rig & Equipment
Vermeer, a leading manufacturer of horizontal directional drilling equipment and tooling, has purchased substantially all of the operating assets of Horizontal Rig & Equipment Inc. (HRE) based in Conroe, Texas.
HRE is a prominent manufacturer of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) rigs and currently produces three drills with pullback forces of 500,000, 750,000 and 1,000,000 lbs. Production of these units will move to the Vermeer manufacturing plant based in Pella, Iowa, in early 2008.
The units will carry the Vermeer brand name and be sold through the Vermeer exclusive distribution channel beginning in the spring of 2008.
“The market for drill rigs of this size is robust, as gas, oil and major water and sewer projects have a strong global outlook,” says Dave Wisniewski, senior director of underground solutions for Vermeer. “While there are competitors in this range of drills, we feel our global sales and service distribution network will distinguish Vermeer in this market.”
Vermeer Corp. manufactures a full line of grinders, brush chippers, stump grinders and tree spades, as well as horizontal directional drilling systems, straw blowers, compact utility loaders and compact excavators, utility and track trenchers and agricultural products.
