Komatsu has secured an agreement to acquire underground mining, tunneling and special civil engineering tunnelist, GHH Group GmbH (GHH), based in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, according to a press release.
“We are very excited about this acquisition as it represents a great opportunity for Komatsu to expand its offerings for underground mining equipment and accelerate new product development through synergies with Komatsu’s existing team and product offerings,” president and CEO, Komatsu Mining Corp., Peter Salditt, said. “By adding GHH’s factories and rebuild facilities in key markets in Europe, South Africa, India and Chile, we also aim to strengthen production and service capabilities for our customers.”
The acquisition is expected to be finalized during the first half of 2023.
"Komatsu is working to expand offerings for underground hard rock mining, creating new value for customers with the development of new equipment, processes and technologies that will help operations step forward to the next stage for the workplace of the future and provide a more sustainable environment for the next generation,” the company’s ongoing midterm management plan states.
Established in 1960, GHHb has developed a catalog of equipment for loaders (LHDs) and articulated dump trucks in the mid-seam mass mining, narrow vein and low-profile industry. Forming part of the German-owned Schmidt Kranz Group, the company also offers services throughout the entity of the machine’s life.
Komatsu has committed to introduce GHH’s factories and rebuild facilities, products and staff into various markets. The company plans to continue guiding the business post-acquisition. The collaboration forms part of this strategy to expand its offerings for underground mining equipment and increase customer access to products in new markets.
“GHH is excited to be able to start a new journey with a strong player in the mining world. This opens huge doors for our people and our products to develop further and grow beyond what we could have hoped for,” said GHH Group CEO Dr. Jan Petzold. “This is the next logical step in becoming a true global player and we look forward to becoming part of the Komatsu family.”