16.03.2012

Mains Crane acquired

Entrec Transportation of Alberta Canada has agreed the acquisition of the Mains crane group of Nisku, Alberta, for $56.2 million.

The companies included in the deal are Mains Crane & Rigging, Main Crane USA, Mains Transportation Services, Nisku Engineering and Independent Crane & Equipment.

The company runs a fleet of over 70 cranes, the largest of which is a 500 tonne Manitowoc crawler crane with Maxer attachment. The business also operates a 92 unit transportation fleet and employs over 90.

Publicly quoted Entrec, of Spruce Grove, specialises in heavy and oversized transportation for the resources sector.

Carolyn Mains, chairman of the Mains group and the founder’s widow, said: “It’s a really good fit for us and will be good for both our employees and customers. Heavy transportation and crane services go hand in hand. It’s really a match made in heaven.”

“We would not have even considered selling to a big company based out of Belgium or wherever. It will be business as usual after the acquisition, which also appealed to us. Our employees have been through a lot of changes over the past couple of years.”

Mains Crane & Rigging was founded in 1994 by Craig Mains who died in a motorcycle accident in California in 2010, aged 59.

Entrec chief executive Rod Marlin added: “Our expansion into the crane services market is a key element of our overall growth strategy. Crane services are very complementary to heavy haul transportation and allow our customers to obtain both their heavy haul and lifting needs from one vendor.”

The company also anticipates that growing demand for cranes and heavy transportation from the Alberta oil-sands will significantly boost revenues of the acquired business going forward.