Two of the world's largest potato equipment manufacturers finalized details of a joint-venture agreement this week as Grimme company officials visited in Idaho.
Spudnik Equipment Co., based in Blackfoot, ID, and Grimme Agricultural Equipment Co., based in Damme, Germany, stated the deal announced last December was effectively closed Jan. 2.
Grimme and Spudnik will join forces in the United States under the name of Spudnik Equipment Company LLC. The company will continue to provide the industry with high quality, reliable, safe, and well-designed products.
Grimme, founded in 1861, as a family business, continues in the same family today. Grimme is a pioneer in the development of innovative potato equipment. Their first potato harvesters were produced in the 1930s.
Their 600 employees develop and produce innovative equipment in state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. Current product offerings include equipment for soil separation, planting, harvesting, storage and ventilation.
Spudnik, formed in 1958, is also a family-owned business. Spudnik has focused on innovative, reliable equipment to meet the needs of the North American potato market and for other parts of the world. The company has a work force of 180 at its Blackfoot operations center.
Spudnik, situated in the heart of potato-growing country, has always tried to listen to the customer and address their needs. Today Spudnik markets equipment for planting, harvesting, storage and transportation.