Alamo Group acquires loading equipment maker

Alamo Group Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Petersen Industries Inc., a Lake Wales, Florida-based producer of truck-mounted grapple loading equipment for $166.5 million.

Alamo, a Seguin, Texas-based manufacturer of industrial and vegetation management equipment, says the acquisition will be financed with a combination of cash on hand and funds available through Alamo Group's credit facility.

“We are very excited about the prospect of joining Petersen to the Alamo Group family of companies,” Alamo Group President and CEO Robert Hureau says. “This acquisition nicely ties to our strategy of acquiring profitable companies with innovative and attractive product portfolios that are market leaders serving stable, steadily growing end markets.

“We believe Petersen products will fit very nicely within our product offering, and under Alamo Group ownership we believe we can unlock significant future cost savings and revenue growth as we integrate the company into our supply chain and dealer networks and expand potential applications for Petersen products.”

Petersen says it is a pioneer in the knuckleboom trash loader equipment sector and designs and manufactures heavy-duty equipment for the solid waste, aggregate, arboricultural and agricultural markets.

“Our flagship Lightning Loader grapple trucks are trusted by more than 1,000 cities and counties nationwide, as well as most major waste companies,” the firm says.

Petersen achieved annual revenue of approximately $75 million last year and Alamo expects the transaction to close during the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

“Since Sam Petersen and I purchased the company in 2012 from its original founder, our team of highly qualified and dedicated people helped us build upon the strong foundations of the company to make many innovative improvements which led to rapid growth and success in the industry," Petersen owner and CEO Casey Hardee says. I fully anticipate the company will continue on its current path producing essential high-quality products while achieving even greater success under Alamo Group ownership.”

Great Falls, Montana-based D.A. Davidson & Co. served as financial advisor and Detroit-based Dykema Gossett PLLC served as legal advisor to the Alamo Group.

Alamo Group's product line now includes recycling and tree care equipment, industrial and vegetation maintenance equipment, vacuum trucks, hydro-excavator machines, street sweepers, snow and ice removal equipment, truck and tractor-mounted mowing attachments and related aftermarket parts and services. The company was founded in 1969 and now operates 27 plants in North America, Europe, Australia and Brazil.