14.09.2005

Michielsens and Van de Weghe merge crane fleets

Michielsens and Van de Weghe have announced that they will merge the crane hire business of Van de Weghe and Michielsens into a new crane company trading as Kranen Michielsens.

The Van de Weghe family will not be operationally involved in the business but will remain as an investor, while Roger Van de Weghe will be president of the board of directors.

We understand that 85 of Van De Weghes 115 mobile cranes will transfer to the new entity, while the remaining units will be put up for sale. Essentially the new Michielsens entity has bought the crane assets of Van de Weghe and taken on the 150 employees who were involved with the crane business. Payment being part cash part shares in the new business.

The combined company will run a fleet of 210 cranes, ranging from seven tonnes to 700 tonnes, operating from six depots in Belgium and one in the Netherlands.

The Van de Weghe access, tower crane and forklift rental businesses will remain autonomous and will continue to use the Van de Weghe depots as local bases. These other businesses employ around 200 people.

The new enlarged crane company will be based at a new eight hectare/20 acre headquarters in the Antwerp area.