Fortbrand Services Announces Acquistion of Vammas Product Line
Plainview, New York On July 15, 2010, Fortbrand Services, Inc., announced that it had acquired the Vammas product line of airport snow removal equipment from Hagie Manufacturing Company of Clarion Iowa.
Fortbrand Services has been the exclusive distributor for Vammas snow removal equipment in the United States and Canada since the introduction of the Vammas PSB 5500 into North America in 1998.
The Vammas product line will be manufactured in the United States by Al-Jon Manufacturing, LLC a manufacturer of specialized equipment for the scrap metal and landfill industries. Al-Jon’s resources include manufacturing skills in heavy weldments, hydraulics and electronics as well as a highly skilled engineering staff. Manufacturing of the Vammas product line by Al-Jon will enable Vammas equipment to be eligible for Federal AIP funding, allowing many more airports to acquire the highest quality and latest technology that is available in airport snow removal equipment.
Manufacturing of the Vammas product line for the European market will continue with Komas, Oy, which has been manufacturing Vammas equipment in Finland for the past seven years.
Fortbrand Services intends to establish a strong and robust worldwide dealer network for the Vammas product line, with outstanding customer support and service. Several of the present Vammas dealers will continue to service current airport clients, as the dealer network is expanded. The international dealer network will be overseen by Veikko Mottonen, who has been associated with the Vammas product line for the past sixteen years.
Finavia Corporation, operator of the Finnish airports, and a major contributor to the development and continued improvement of Vammas PSB vehicles, will be supported and serviced in Finland by the newly appointed dealer for the Vammas product line, Pajakulma Oy. Pajakulma will be expanding on its current product offering and services with Finavia and will also distribute Vammas equipment in Sweden.
The Skiddometer product line has been acquired by Moventor, Oy, whose CEO, Harri Heikkila, has long been associated with Skiddometer continuous friction measuring equipment. Moventor will institute a program to update and improve the Skiddometer and further develop its customer base. Fortbrand Services will distribute the Skiddometer in North America.
Fortbrand Services will continue its relationship with Hagie Manufacturing Company as the exclusive North American dealer for the Hagie GST 20 airport sprayer; a multi function, multi season airport service vehicle, and associated edge light plow and flail mower attachments. Fortbrand is working with Hagie to further expand the capabilities of the Hagie GST 20 vehicle.
Fortbrand Services is a niche business specializing in the sale, lease and rental of aircraft ground support equipment throughout the aviation industry. The Company also is a distributor for unique airfield maintenance equipment, including the Vammas PSB 5500, Hagie GST 20 Sprayer and Beam VX 800 Multi-Task Airport Service Vehicle.
For additional information contact Alan J. Stearn, Executive Vice President of Fortbrand Services, or visit our web site at www.fortbrand.com.
