Kalmar Industries, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Partek Group, announced in December 2000 that it was to acquire the Dutch company NHC Holding BV, consisting of Nelcon BV (a manufacturer of container handling equipment including ship-to-shore cranes, mobile harbour cranes, rail mounted gantry cranes and straddle carriers) and Groot-Hensen, a service company. The deal was subject to the approval of the competition authorities both in Germany and Holland. These two bodies have now advised Kalmar that they have no objections to Nelcon becoming part of the Kalmar Group and, consequently, the transaction has been finalised.
As a result of this acquisition, Kalmar Industries will be able to offer an even more comprehensive range of container handling solutions to its customers, including ship to shore gantry cranes.
Nelcon will continue its operations in Rotterdam and Tom Kocken will continue as Managing Director. He will report to Kalmar's CEO Christer Granskog who will become Chairman of Nelcon. Mr Kocken will also become a member of the Kalmar management team.
Groot-Hensen will also continue its operations in Rotterdam and Gertjan van Doornewaard will continue as Managing Director. He will report to Kalmar's EVP Raimo Ylivakeri who also holds the title President of Kalmar Solutions.
In order to secure maximum benefit from the synergy potential, joint project teams will be set up with the clear targets of improving the competitiveness of both Kalmar and Nelcon