Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc., a regional heavy construction equipment and crane dealer founded in 1983, has acquired Dallas-based Continental Equipment Company. The strategic acquisition allows for Kirby-Smith Machinery to retain the Komatsu construction equipment line as well as maintain additional construction-related product lines.
In 1998, Continental was purchased by one of the world’s largest trading companies, Sumitomo Corporation of America, and has five locations throughout Texas. Kirby-Smith will operate the newly acquired Continental locations under the Kirby-Smith Machinery name. With the addition of Continental, Kirby-Smith will have a total of nine branches located in Oklahoma City; Tulsa, Okla.; Kansas City, Kan.; St. Louis; and Dallas; as well as Fort Worth, Amarillo, Lubbock and Abilene, Texas. Overall, the company will employ more than 300 people.
Despite recent slowdowns in the construction industry, Kirby-Smith owner and president Ed Kirby said the acquisition comes at a good time.
“We first entered the Texas market in 2000 and have been interested in further expanding our efforts there. By acquiring Continental and its five Texas branches, we will essentially triple our market potential in terms of machine sales.”
Kirby-Smith is a full-service equipment distributorship, offering new and used equipment sales, parts and service. It also offers a diverse equipment rental fleet and is one of the largest privately owned rental companies in an eight-state region.
Kirby-Smith Machinery serves the construction, earth-moving, paving, roadbuilding, materials handling, cranes, compaction, and demolition markets.
Kirby-Smith Machinery is the authorized dealer for Komatsu, Manitowoc, Grove, National, Bomag, LBX, Gomaco, Sky-Trak, Dressta, LeeBoy/Rosco, Gradall, Broce, Godwin, Trail King and Wirtgen as well as others.
For more information, call 888/861-0219 or visit www.kirby-smith.com.
