Danish trailer and spider lift manufacturer Omme Lift A/S filed for insolvency on June 9th after 120 years and four generations in business.
The latest annual financial statement indicated a loss of DK11.7 million (€1.56 million). The company has been looking for an investor to inject fresh capital. In the Danish commercial register, three subsidiary companies were recently "Dissolved following merger", in order to simplify the company structure.
Omme Lift began life as a blacksmith shop in the town of Sønder Omme in central Jutland, and began manufacturing agricultural machinery in 1945, adding aerial work platforms in 1983, shortly after long serving third generation manager Harry Lorentsen took over. The company delivered it 10,000th lift at the end of 2019
(L-R) Ditte Lorentsen, Lars Omme and Henrik Lorentsen
The company still has two Lorentsens on the board, Ditte and Henrik, but in 2018 it appointed its first non-Lorentsen chief executive, Axel Thøgersen, while the second, appropriately named Lars Omme, took over in 2024.
He has now resigned and issued a personal statement which says:
“When I took office as chief executive officer on February 1st, 2024, the ambition was to develop the company commercially, strengthen our market position and create the basis for future growth. However, it quickly became clear that liquidity was the biggest challenge, and the focus was therefore largely directed towards ensuring the company's continued operation and creating a financial foundation for the future.”
“The past two and a half years have been among the most demanding in my working life. Despite a great effort from everyone involved, unfortunately, we were unable to turn the tide.”
“I would like to extend a big thank you to Omme Lift's employees. I have been surrounded by skilled, loyal and committed people who have done their best every day under difficult conditions. Your efforts, flexibility and support have made a great impression on me. At the same time, I would like to thank our dealers, customers, suppliers, partners, board of directors and other relations for the trust and cooperation throughout the period."
“For me personally, the bankruptcy means that for the first time in my working life I am without a job. It is, of course, a new situation, but I am also looking forward. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey.”
Vertikal Comment
It is sad to see Omme go through this after so long in the industry. The company produces good products- both trailer lifts and spider lifts and had built up a decent brand awareness for the Omme name, although that dropped off in recent years, especially as Harry Lorentsen stepped down.
It is clearly a tough challenge to build platforms profitably in Denmark, Denka and Falcon /Falck Schmidt both went the same way as Omme. Denka is back, and now made in Germany, while Falcon looks like it will not make it.
We hear that there is interest in the Ommelift business, but sadly, that is likely to be just the assets, such as designs, tooling and intellectual property. But so far no indications of any such move, and given how many companies are now competing in the spider lift market, it is hard to imagine who might go for it.
Barecat
sad news. Fantastic company and good quality products. Harry was a very special person