As part of its effort to expand its equipment offering in the composting industry, Vermeer intends to acquire a 50 percent share of Wildcat Manufacturing, a leading manufacturer of compost turners, trommel screens and green waste sorting equipment.
Adding compost turner equipment also reflects Vermeer’s commitment to the environment, according to Mike Byram, Vermeer’s senior director of environmental solutions. “Vermeer has been engaged in the composting market for a decade with our tub and horizontal grinder line,” Byram says. “We believe current industry trends and regulations will continue to divert organic matter from landfills and fuel additional growth in this market.”
Purchasing a stake in Wildcat complements the growth of Vermeer’s lines of tub and horizontal grinders and compost turning equipment, Byram says. Greg Ehm, spokesman for Vermeer, says the company cannot disclose information about the cost of the acquisition, which the company anticipates will be completed this summer. There are no plans for changes within either of the companies at this time, though Vermeer will assume management responsibility for Wildcat. “Essentially, both businesses will be operating as usual,” Ehm says.
