Tillage specialist Lemken is to acquire the South African seed drill manufacturer Equalizer. As a result, the German company will significantly expand its product portfolio in seeding technology.
With a focus on minimal ground disturbance to no-till farming, the Equalizer product range includes precision planters with up to 36 rows and seed drills with a working width of up to 24m. The acquisition is expected to be completed by spring 2023, once regulatory approvals have been obtained.
Lemken’s CEO, Anthony van der Ley, said he believed the Equalizer portfolio perfectly complemented Lemken’s seed drill offering and constituted an important building block for further growth.
“There is no overlap in our portfolios,” he added. “Equalizer offers solutions for customers and markets that Lemken has not been able to serve so far. In terms of our growth strategy, Equalizer planters and seeders – also in combination with air carts – close a current gap in our product range.”
An additional, optimal synergy arises for Lemken precision seeding technology, as the Delta-Row technology developed by Lemken is complemented by single-row technology established by Equalizer.
Equalizer, which like Lemken is a family-owned business, was founded in Cape Town in 2000 and currently employs 180 people. The company serves not only its South African home market, where it is the market leader in precision seeding, but also Australia as its most important export market.
“We see great potential for new products with Lemken on our side, and we look forward to our future collaboration,” Equalizer’s founder and managing director, Gideon Schreuder, said. “At the same time, we’re proud that this agreement reaffirms the success and hard work of the entire Equalizer team and our local dealers over the past 22 years.”
Lemken plans to expand the South African site together with Equalizer. The first definite project is the extensive expansion of spare parts logistics in 2023. All of Equalizer’s experienced local staff will be retained, and it will continue to be led as an independent subsidiary by its current management.
The Equalizer brand name will be preserved, with Lemken contributing to development, production and sales expertise to support its future growth.
www.lemken.com | www.equalizer.co.za
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