Wacker Neuson sells power trowel business to Husqvarna

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Updated Oct 17, 2019
Wyatt Molzahn takes a turn during his winning run at the 2013 Wacker Neuson Trowel Challenge in Las Vegas.Wyatt Molzahn takes a turn during his winning run at the 2013 Wacker Neuson Trowel Challenge in Las Vegas.

Wacker Neuson announced it has sold its concrete power trowel business to Husqvarna.

The move is designed to help Wacker Neuson “focus on core products and thus streamline its product portfolio,” the company says. Those core products include compact equipment, compaction equipment, and internal and external vibrators.

Husqvarna says it will acquire all the product, research and development, and manufacturing assets for Wacker’s walk-behind and ride-on concrete power trowels. The move follows the company’s acquisition of Atlas Copco’s concrete and compaction business in 2018. The Sweden-based company’s construction products also include power saws, demolition robots and tools, drills and power packs.

Wacker Neuson, based in Germany, says it will continue to offer trowels throughout 2020 under its agreement with Husqvarna and will supply spare parts and service to its customers beyond that. The company adds that the sale will not affect its concrete internal and external vibrators business.

Husqvarna says it will launch its own product range next year, “and as part of the agreement Husqvarna Group will in parallel manufacture power trowels on Wacker Neuson’s behalf.”

“Power trowels complement our current range in a great way, connecting the entire process from ground compaction to polished concrete floors, and fits well into our divisional strategy to grow our concrete surfaces and floors business,” says Henric Andersson, president of Husqvarna’s Construction Division. “With the addition of the ride-on trowels, we will now have a complete offering for concrete surfacing and polishing, which will add great value to our customers.”

Terms of the sale were not released.

North America has been Wacker Neuson’s largest market for its power trowels. And the company has held annual competitions, including at this year’s World of Concrete, for ride-on trowel operators.

Wacker Neuson says the sale is part of its “Strategy 2022,” to become one of the top world leaders in manufacturing light and compact equipment. The strategy focuses on developing the company’s core markets in North America and Europe, as well as expanding into the China and Asian market over the next two years. The strategy also calls for speeding up new product development in such areas as energy efficiency, alternative drive technologies, driver assistance systems and digital networking of products and services, the company says. Wacker Neuson’s strategy includes streamlining its internal structures to make the company more efficient, the company says.