The BID Group of Companies has acquired controlling interest of Quebec-based Comact Equipment Inc., making it one of the largest sawmill equipment manufacturers in North America.
"This acquisition tremendously strengthens the opportunities for both groups to serve our very busy domestic and international forestry-based markets," said BID Group chief executive officer Brian Fehr in a statement.
"For our western operations in BC, this provides not only greater geographic flexibility for product delivery, but also access to Comact's highly-experienced and well regarded business development team serving Canadian, USA and international markets."
Together, the companies will have 250,000 square feet of manufacturing plants - about half from BID and half from Comact - and 750 employees - 400 from BID and 350 from Comact. Comact will continue to be based out of Quebec and operate under the Comact brand.
All other operating divisions of the BID Group, including Nechako Construction, Nechako Mechanical, Sawmill Equipment Company (SEC) and Deltech Manufacturing will also continue business as usual under their respective operating names.
A purchase price was not disclosed.
Fehr will remain the parent company's CEO, while three Comact executives will be part of BID Group's upper management. Comact president Pierre Morency becomes BID Group's chairman, Eric Michaud moves into senior vice president of sales and marketing, and Simon Potvin will be the senior vice president of manufacturing.
"Much like BID, Comact now has greater flexibility for manufacturing and shipping on the other side of the continent, with the added benefit of expanding its business by leveraging BID's extensive turn-key experience and capabilities," Potvin said.
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