Cutter business bought by Kinshofer

Kinshofer has acquired the Schaeff transverse cutter business from Atlas, the German-based crane and excavator manufacturer.

The transverse, or drum, cutters are the first in Kinshofer’s line of crane and excavator attachments. It said the additions would allow the company to serve contractors in a wider range of industries, including tunnelling and mining.

It added that they also gave contractors in construction, demolition and landscaping access to a broader range of attachments, all from one manufacturer.

Thomas Friedrich, Kinshofer Group president and CEO, said, “Customers come to us for our breadth of high-quality, innovative attachments that are known for increasing productivity.

“It’s the hallmark of our business, and the new drum cutters represent that by giving contractors higher profitability, greater efficiency and more flexibility than competitive models.”

Kinshofer is rolling out the new product line globally as the WS-series drum cutters. The cutters will be Kinshofer branded and sold and supported by the company’s dealer network.

Kinshofer will also service units sold by Atlas, and provide technical support as well as parts, which are available through Kinshofer dealers.

Brahim Sitiou, president and CEO of Atlas, said, “Kinshofer is just as committed to quality and performance as us, and they are poised to take the product to new heights.

“This change is not only good for both companies, but customers as well. They want one manufacturer they can go to for their attachment needs, and this transition gives them that.”

Atlas said it was divesting its cutter business to continue its focus on manufacturing cranes and excavators, the company’s core products since 1919.

Kinshofer was founded in Germany in 1971, and the group includes the Kinshofer, Demarec, RF Systems, Auger Torque, Doherty and Solesbee’s brands.