05.12.2025

Stellar takes Elliott

US based mechanics truck and service crane manufacturer Stellar Industries has acquired Omaha, Nebraska based truck mounted aerial lift, crane and digger derrick manufacturer Elliot Equipment. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026.

The two parties to the deal have stated that after the transaction completes, Elliott will continue to trade under its own name as a standalone business unit, within the Stellar group, maintaining all employees, separate facilities, brand identity and dealer relationships, with Jim Glazer continuing to lead the business.

Based in Garner, Iowa, Stellar is a 100 percent employee employee-owned company that dates back to 1990 when it was founded by three entrepreneurs, Francis Zrostlik, Jim Vlaanderen and Gary Bomstad, to design and manufacture hydraulic hooklifts and went on to become a leading producer of mechanics trucks with on board telescopic cranes. It has grown at a steady but consistent pace since 1990, through organic growth and several well thought through and managed acquisitions, to the point where the company now has more than 800 employees and several production facilities.

Elliott, on the other hand, was established in 1948 when Richard Elliott founded the company to design and manufacture some of the first telescopic truck mounted aerial work platforms, digger derricks and cranes for the utility market, initially to help streamline the installation of poles and overhead power lines.

The Glazer family purchased Elliot in 1990, with the current chief executive, Jim Glazer, joining the business in 1992 after spending two years with management consultants Ernst & Young (EY) and a further two years with Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC). He has been leading the company since 2000.

The current Elliott product line includes a full line of boom trucks and small to medium truck cranes mounted on commercial chassis with capacities up to 45 tonnes and maximum tip heights to 63 metres. Its mainstream telescopic truck mounted lift range features working heights of 14 to 43 metres.

Stellar said: “The acquisition will strengthen our long term growth strategy by expanding our lifting equipment and work at height solutions, widening our presence across core vocational markets and creating additional opportunities for distributors, customers and our employee-owners.”

President Dave Zrostlik added: “Stellar has always pursued growth opportunities that align with our culture, vision and commitment to excellence. The addition of Elliott Equipment Company represents an exciting step forward as we continue to build upon our shared values of quality, innovation and customer service. We are proud to welcome Elliott to the Stellar team.”

Glazer said: “We are thrilled to continue the Elliott Equipment Company story with Stellar. This acquisition represents a strong cultural fit between two organisations that share a commitment to people, product integrity and long term growth.”

Vertikal Comment

This seems like a sound and sensible move for both parties, assuming the price was fair, of course. The largest competitors for Elliot include Altec, Versalift, National Crane, and Terex Utilities, while Stellar faces companies like Palfinger and IMT. All of which undergoing change and pushing for market share growth.

Stellar and Elliot appear to have a similar approach to business, product design and management and look as though they will be a good fit, especially given the ‘separate but together’ approach/strategy they plan to follow.

In summary, this looks like a good match – but only time will tell.