Pewag group, a leading global company that manufactures traction chain devices and industrial chains, has completed its acquisition of Wallingford’s/BABAC Inc., a leading U.S.-based provider of forestry traction devices, forestry supplies and snow chains. Wallingford’s and BABAC were consolidated as part of pewag’s traction and forestry segment.
The acquisition of Wallingford’s/BABAC is a strong fit with pewag’s North American forestry business and in particular its forestry traction devices business. It is part of the strategy of pewag to be a leader in this segment globally. Moreover, the high-quality forestry traction devices, developed and manufactured by pewag in Austria and the Czech Republic, will be integrated into Wallingford’s portfolio.
Pewag’s business areas are mainly snow chains, forestry traction, hoist and conveyor chains, do-it-yourself products, engineering, lifting and lashing chains and accessories, and tire protection chains. Modern chain manufacturing facilities in Europe and in Pueblo, Colorado, enable the company to produce high quality chain products.
“The combination of pewag’s strong portfolio in forestry with traction devices and the wide distribution network of Wallingford’s in the forestry industry will result in a leadership position in this sector in North America,” said Rob Bekkers, CEO of pewag Traction and Forestry. “Moreover, the skidder and ring skidder traction devices developed and manufactured by BABAC will complete pewag’s global forestry product range.”
Wallingford’s is an international wholesaler of tire chains, logging and industrial supplies and the largest of its kind. Products are predominantly sold to distributors in North America. The range of products includes traction systems (tracks/skidder chains/tire chains), cutting systems, logging supplies and industrial supplies. The sales and marketing office is located in Oakland, Maine, with a distribution, assembly and administrative facility in New Hampton, New Hampshire, and Canadian distribution centers in Edmonton, Alberta, and Montreal, Quebec.
As president of Wallingford’s, Chip Wallingford will lead future development and is taking over the position from John Wallingford. “We are very excited to be now part of the global pewag group, which will add value and quality to our product portfolio, improve our position in the North American forestry market, and will definitely give a further push to our professional customer service,” he said.
