Big Dutchman acquires controlling interest in Proline group
Proline’s know-how in the region will ideally complement Big Dutchman’s sales team and activities
January 22, 2015
The Big Dutchman group based in Vechta, Germany, announced today that the company has acquired a controlling interest of the Canada-based Proline Group. With about 50 employees globally, Proline Group is a leading supplier of production technologies for the pig, poultry, and grain handling industries in Asia and Oceania. Proline Group designs, supplies, builds and installs (turn-key) livestock equipment and facilities for pig, poultry and grain production under the brands PigPro, ChickPro and GrainPro.
The Proline Group, headquartered in Alberta, has been present in Asia since 1991 under the management of Darren Rose, who will remain the Managing Director. Its regional focus, among others, lies in countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and China. The Canadian company is a complete solution provider and specializes in turn-key systems for the pig as well as poultry industry. “The comprehensive know-how Proline has acquired throughout its long presence in the region will ideally complement our sales team and activities particularly in the Philippines and Vietnam,” says Bernd Meerpohl, Chairman of the Big Dutchman AG board of management. “We are glad to enter this partnership as the long standing customer relationships established by Proline will also further strengthen our market position in particular in Asia.”
According to Meerpohl, Proline Group has an outstanding reputation in the industry. Last but not least this is due to the cooperation with some of the world’s leading manufacturers in some specialized areas. “We are looking forward to continue the cooperation with a number of those excellent suppliers,” confirms Meerpohl.
Collaboration Representatives (from left to right):
Nigel Godde: President Pig Business Unit China, Big Dutchman Pig Equipment, Magnus Westerkamp: Managing Director Big Dutchman Pig Equipment, Jan Hofstede: President Big Dutchman Asia, Darren Rose: Managing Director Proline Group, Otis Horton: Swine Production Consultant Proline Group, Brian McCawley: President Big Dutchman China, Alfred Tan: Vice-President BD Agriculture Malaysia
Big Dutchman is the world’s leading equipment supplier for modern pig and poultry production. The independent, family-owned company based in Vechta, Germany, offers its products in more than 100 countries and achieved a turnover of approximately 670 million Euros in the past business year.