The Holland Group acquires Simplex product line from ConMet

Sept. 29, 2004
Holland USA, a subsidiary of The Holland Group, Inc., announced today that it has acquired the Simplex fifth wheel product line from Consolidated Metco, Inc., an AMSTED Industries subsidiary.

Holland USA, a subsidiary of The Holland Group, Inc., announced today that it has acquired the Simplex fifth wheel product line from Consolidated Metco, Inc., an AMSTED Industries subsidiary.

AMSTED, a diversified holding company based in Chicago, IL, is one of the world's largest transportation component manufacturers, specializing in products that serve the rail, heavy-duty vehicle, automotive, construction/building and general industrial markets. ConMet produces aluminum castings, wheel hubs (both aluminum and ductile iron) and plastic interior components. The Simplex fifth wheel product line had been transferred to ConMet from American Steel Foundries, another AMSTED subsidiary, in 2000.

"The sale of the Simplex fifth wheel product line is an important step for ConMet," says Ed Oeltjen, president of ConMet. "It will allow us to focus more resources on our core businesses of wheel ends, plastic interiors and aluminum castings, all serving the NAFTA Commercial vehicle market. We feel that we have left our fifth wheel customers in good hands with The Holland Group."

"The Holland organization is excited about this acquisition," says Holland Group president Sam Martin. "We plan to build on ConMet's strong OEM and fleet relationships with the Simplex fifth wheel and leverage our common cast steel know-how to provide improved fifth wheel products to our customers. We anticipate a smooth transition of the Simplex fifth wheel operation in Monroe, NC from ConMet to Holland USA without disruption in production or customer service."