SUPPLIER NEWS

Wynnchurch Capital acquires Labrie Environmental

Wynnchurch Capital, Rosemont, Illinois, announced Sept. 8 that it has acquired Quebec-based Labrie Environmental Group LLC. Labrie is a manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles and related parts. Founded in 1971, Labrie provides a suite of side-loader, front-loader and rear-loader vehicles that it sells through a network of dealers.

“We are committed to delivering best-in-class refuse collection vehicles and service for our customers and are excited to partner with Wynnchurch as we continue that mission,” Labrie CEO Diana Grootonk says. “Wynnchurch understands our business and the demanding needs of our customers, and we believe that through our shared vision we can take Labrie to new levels.”

Wynnchurch Capital announced it is actively seeking investment opportunities for its $2.3 billion Fund V. Over the course of the calendar year, the company has acquired several businesses across industries.

“Wynnchurch is pleased to make Labrie our first platform investment in Fund V. The business fits our investment philosophy of acquiring well-managed market leaders with significant growth potential,” Wynnchurch Managing Partner John Hatherly says.

“Labrie has a well-earned reputation in the waste management industry for its high-quality products, strong engineering expertise and service. We are excited to partner with management to focus on its next stage of growth,” Wynnchurch Partner Greg Gleason says.

Stadler acquires majority stake in weeeSwiss Technology AG

Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH, Altshausen, Germany, has announced it has acquired a majority stake in Zurich-based weeeSwiss Technology AG, which specializes in designing, constructing and operating turnkey waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling plants.

WeeeSwiss has more than 25 years of industrial experience in WEEE recycling technology. The company offers WEEE recycling operators full engineering, procurement and construction services, including a detailed analysis of the customer’s requirements, process design and factory layout, installation and startup. The company delivers specially developed training programs to ensure its customers’ staff can operate their plants to the highest standards, according to a news release from Stadler regarding the investment.

WeeeSwiss’ support extends to marketing plant output, including market research and feasibility studies, with visits to prospective clients and evaluation of their e-scrap. The company also provides off-take agreements for precious metals, nonferrous and ferrous metals and plastics.

“WeeeSwiss is a perfect fit for Stadler,” says Willi Stadler, CEO of Stadler Anlagenbau GmbH. “Through this partnership, we are extending further our product line to include electronic waste, which is set to become an increasingly important sector in the recycling industry. Our customers will benefit from the expert know-how of weeeSwiss in WEEE recycling facilities together with the benefits of Stadler’s worldwide sales and service network, our strong project management capabilities and experience in building large sorting plants.”

Jochen Apfel, CEO of weeeSwiss, adds, “With the growing needs of the market for metals that are directly involved in the evolution of our technologies, e-waste recycling is gaining importance by the day. It is a business with great opportunities because the demand is driving commodities prices up so that they quickly pay back the investment in a plant. Countries across the world are seeing the environmental benefits of e-waste processing and its business potential.

“Together with Stadler, weeeSwiss is in the ideal position to meet the requirements of this challenging market with market-leading WEEE recycling plants,” he continues.

Stadler says the two companies will harness their combined know-how in the joint development of new solutions, processes and technologies for WEEE recycling using the resources of Stadler’s innovation and test centers in Altshausen and in Krsko, Slovenia. They also will build on the existing collaborations that weeeSwiss has established with Swiss universities.