The Ditch Witch switch is at fever pitch, with distributor CEA formally wrapping up its acquisition of ELB Equipment yesterday
Machinery distributor ELB Equipment’s bases in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide will consolidate with those of JCB’s Australian distributor, CEA, over the next 18 months.
CEA, which also distributes products from Dynapac and Atlas Copco, acquired ELB in March this year, with the deal formally wrapping up yesterday.
Check out our report on the acquisition here
ELB’s head office and administrative staff will begin relocating to CEA’s head Sydney office this month, CEA chief executive Hylton Taylor says, adding that the company would work to minimise disruption and downtime during this process.
“There will be a period of transition over the coming months as we move the ELB team in to the CEA premises but I am confident we can complete this quickly and with minimal disruption,” he says.
“Since first announcing the acquisition, we have received extremely positive feedback from the market and we are looking forward to the future opportunities this will present to the CEA business.”
About 55 people from ELB will join CEA, ELB Managing Director Christopher Malan says, adding that the team was looking forward to joining the larger company.
The merger brings CEA together with the Australian distributor of Ditch Witch underground construction equipment and Komptech waste recycling equipment, as well as DiamondZ tub grinders, Hammerhead trenchless equipment and Trackstack Tracked and Wheeled Stackers, among others.
Taylor says he is pleased to be adding the brands to the product portfolio, saying they will strengthen the business’s well-established footprint across the country.
“As a growing business we are continually looking at how we better meet the needs of the ever-evolving market,” he says.
“Adding strong, well established brands to our portfolio strengthens our ability to support our diverse range of existing customers and provides the opportunity to interact with a whole new client base.”
As part of the acquisition 55 employees from ELB Equipment will transition to CEA, ensuring key product knowledge and strong customer relationships are retained within the business.