03.12.2019

Peinemann acquires G. van Harten

Dutch international rental and lifting company Peinemann Mobilift has acquired heavy moving and installation company G. van Harten from the van Harten family.

Gert van Harten started out as an engineer/lifting technician with Mammoet, before starting his own company in June 1986 initially as Mobiel Transport. He changed to the current company name in 1989 and has expanded rapidly since then, moving into its current premises in Veenendaal in 2008.

Harten specialises in the relocation of machines and other objects for the steel, asphalt, concrete, foods, chemicals, medical and energy related industries. It has a reputation for mechanical and electro-technical expertise, allowing it to offer a real ‘turnkey’ for machine removal, transport and reinstallation on an international scale. Its fleet includes a number of specialist cranes including electric powered articulated spider cranes, mini crawlers and telehandlers.

The deal, an all share purchase, was agreed on Friday evening, details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The van Harten family, including Gert’s daughter Judith and two of her cousins will remain with the company.

Peinemann chief executive Ad Kornet said: "We are very happy with this addition to our service package. G. van Harten specialises in industrial relocations and has lift systems of up to 1,100 tonnes at its disposal. Peinemann works worldwide, from Dubai to New Orleans. We have international ambitions to put the unique knowledge and skills of G. van Harten on the map, where they are not yet active. Moreover, we are also a family business, a size larger, but the cultures fit well together. "

Harten general manager Judith van Harten added: "I look forward to build on growth together with Peinemann. We are too small to have everything in house, while the market is becoming more demanding and requires more investment. Together we can handle more and larger projects. For example, we have transported a complete asphalt plant in parts from Venlo in The Netherlands to Antwerp in Belgium and we are placing many transformers in residential areas for energy supply. "

Peinemann is now a global business offering a wide range of lifting and heavy transport services, it runs substantial mobile crane and access rental fleets, with revenues topping €200 million. It employs 850 staff worldwide.

Vertikal Comment

This looks like an excellent move for both parties Gert van Harten is 72 and keen to retire while his daughter Judith will benefit from the growth potential with in the larger group. The fact that the two companies have a good deal in common when it comes to culture and attitude will help make it a success and more than the sum of its parts.

With the Mammoet acquisition of ALE due to complete, there is plenty of room for another company to take some of that business and market share as the two groups go through their merger and become yet more unwieldy. So perfect timing for Peinemann and van Harten to pool their skills, experience and assets and seize the moment.