The Volvo P5170B asphalt paver, which is among the company’s Blaw-Knox line.Volvo Construction Equipment will sell its North American Blaw-Knox paver business to Gencor Industries.
The Orlando, Florida-based Gencor plans to manufacture the pavers in Letterkenny Township, Pennsylvania, says a Volvo CE news release. “The Blaw-Knox business and associated assets will shift to Gencor, including the transfer of the manufacturing production line currently located in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania.”
The pavers will continue to be serviced and marketed through Volvo CE dealerships, both companies say. The deal is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.
Gencor manufactures asphalt plants, asphalt storage tanks, baghouse filtration systems, RAP recycle systems, mineral additive systems, hot mix silos and other equipment for the highway and road construction industry. Brands include Bituma, General Combustion (Genco), HyWay, and H&B (Hetherington & Berner).
The Blaw-Knox acquisition will give Gencor “an entry into the hot-mix paver segment,” says Gencor President and Director Marc G. Elliot. “We are committed to the long-term growth and development of the Blaw-Knox brand.”
Blaw-Knox pavers have a long history. The Blaw-Knox Company was formed in 1917 and began manufacturing concrete finishers and related equipment after an acquisition of A.W. French & Company, according to a history of the company, The Blaw-Knox Company, 1918-1962 by Thomas Berry. The company began producing form-riding asphalt pavers in 1931. The company changed hands several times starting in 1968, eventually being acquired by Ingersoll-Rand. Volvo acquired Blaw-Knox paving equipment in 2007 and has continued to use the brand name.
Volvo has manufactured Blaw-Knox brand pavers, along with soil and asphalt compactors, wheel loaders and screeds at its Shippensburg location on Volvo Way, and it assembles pavers and screeds at its Letterkenny plant, which also houses the company’s Road Institute. The Shippensburg complex serves as Volvo CE’s sales and operations headquarters for North and South America.
Pennsylvania is also the birthplace of Blaw-Knox. The town Blawknox in Allegheny County got its name for the Blaw-Knox Steel Construction Co. mill that once employed most of the town’s residents.
“Gencor is a strong player to take on the Blaw-Knox paver range, as it has extensive expertise in the asphalt industry and a good reputation for quality and customer success,” says Melker Jernberg, Volvo CE president. “We see this agreement as being a win-win for us and Gencor. It maintains a valuable product offer to Volvo CE customers, as well as securing dealer distribution and servicing of Blaw-Knox branded paver products in North America.”
