With the acquisition of A.E. Finley of the Carolinas, Stafford has broadened its reach in the Southeast with more locations and additional product offerings.

It now has nine locations throughout the Southeast.

The 55-year-old company recently completed the purchase of A.E. Finley and its four branches in Charlotte, Leland and Raleigh, NC, and West Columbia, SC.

As a result of the acquisition, Stafford moved its previous Charlotte location to the former A.E. Finley location, on the north side of Charlotte. Customers in that city are now able to stop by 1010 Atando Ave. to have their equipment and service needs met. The new property, located on “Equipment Row,” has more than 21,000 sq. ft. of space.

With the acquisition, Stafford will bring on new product lines including Bomag, Cedarapids, Etnyre, Gomaco, Kobelco and Efficiency. New product lines will now be offered in the former A.E. Finley locations with the addition of LBX Link-Belt excavators, Terex cranes and Hyundai excavators and wheel loaders.

Stafford CEO John Wall said the company maintained all of A.E. Finley’s 38 employees, as well as the management structure. Stafford now employs a total of 175 people.

The acquisition, which had been discussed since November, was beneficial to Stafford due to the strategic locations of A.E. Finley’s former branches and the quality of its staff.

“The employees have a long history of serving the industry,” Wall said.

He added that the transition has gone “wonderfully” and the former A.E. Finley customers are experiencing the same quality service they’ve come to expect.

“Our industry is small to begin with, so many of the people from both organizations already knew each other,” Wall said. “There is a genuine excitement from everyone here at Stafford, moving forward.”

There are significant renovation plans for the former Finley locations.

“We want to grow parts and service in each of the branches and focus on customer service and sales,” Wall said.

The purchase of A.E. Finley comes in the wake of Stafford’s companywide realignment. The former sister companies of Reliable Tractor Inc. in Tifton, GA; Stafford Tractor Co., in Lawrenceville, GA; Stafford Tractor of the Carolinas based in Charlotte, NC; and Stafford Atlantic Machinery, in Ashland, VA, have united as one company under Wall’s leadership. CEG Staff

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