January 23, 2015

German firm Big Dutchman acquires controlling interest in Proline Group

HAPPY FACES AFTER CONTRACT-SIGNING From left to right: Nigel Godde, president of Pig Business Unit China, Big Dutchman Pig Equipment; Magnus Westerkamp, managing director of Big Dutchman Pig Equipment; Jan Hofstede, president of Big Dutchman Asia; Darren Rose, managing director of Proline Group; Otis Horton, swine production consultant of Proline Group; Brian McCawley, president of Big Dutchman China; and Alfred Tan, vice president of Big Dutchman Agriculture Malaysia.

German firm Big Dutchman, a manufacturer of poultry and swine production equipment, is set to further strengthen its position in Asia with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Canada-based Proline Group, 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.

Headquartered in Alberta, Canada, the Proline Group has had a presence in Asia since 1991, with offices in the Philippines, Vietnam, Australia and China.

Bernd Meerpohl, chairman of the Big Dutchman AG board of management, said, "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. We are glad to enter this partnership as the longstanding customer relationships established by Proline will also further strengthen our market position in particular in Asia".

Meerpohl also said the Proline Group has an outstanding reputation in the industry due largely to the cooperation with some of the world's leading manufacturers in some specialised areas.

"We are looking forward to continue the cooperation with a number of those excellent suppliers", he added.