WH Scott Group acquires EPMC Europe Crane Solutions

The WH Scott Group, lifting and engineering experts since 1897, has acquired EPMC Europe Crane Solutions, an established Dutch specialist in onshore and offshore cranes. EPMC operates from Amsterdam and Rotterdam (Europoort). This is the Group’s first acquisition in mainland Europe and gives it a permanent base in two of Europe’s busiest port and industrial regions.

EPMC was founded on 1 January 1990 by Adrie van den Broek and has built a strong reputation for its engineering expertise and reliability over the last 36 years. EPMC works in a similar sphere to WH Scott, installing, repairing, inspecting, overhauling, maintaining and automating cranes of any make or type, covering both their electrical and mechanical systems. It also supplies new cranes, hoisting gear and spare parts. It treats offshore and dredging cranes as a dedicated discipline. Its customers span across the steel, shipbuilding, concrete, waste processing, assembly and transshipment sectors, where the business offers round-the-clock support for operators in the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

The two businesses are a strong technical fit. The acquisition will allow both companies to benefit from synergy in design, supply relationships and expertise in lifting solutions. EPMC’s crane engineering, offshore capability and 24 hour port service perfectly complement the WH Scott Group’s experience in crane supply, installation, inspection and maintenance in safety-critical sectors. Group capabilities such as material testing from Metlab and specialist roping services from Re-Ropes will also become available to EPMC customers in the Netherlands.

EPMC will continue to trade under its own name from its Amsterdam and Rotterdam sites, led by Gerrit de Groot. Customers will continue to deal with the same engineers and the same people, with the same responsiveness that has built EPMC’s reputation over 36 years. The only change they will notice is an improvement: a broader range of lifting services, greater technical depth and the added security of being part of a group with more than a century of experience.

Patrick Doyle, CEO of the WH Scott Group, said, “This is a landmark step for the Group. EPMC has spent more than three decades building a reputation for reliability in some of the most demanding crane environments in Europe, from offshore and dredging cranes to round-the-clock support in the ports of Rotterdam and Amsterdam. Its team shares our focus and founder Adrie van Broek’s philosophy on safety, quality, and responsiveness. Together we can offer customers on both sides of the North Sea a broader range of lifting expertise, and we’re excited about what we can build together.”

Founder Adrie van den Broek, who will step away from the day to day running of the business and transitions to advisor as part of the acquisition, said, “It has been the privilege of my working life to build EPMC from a building purchased for one Dutch guilder into a team of more than 40 crane specialists, and I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. I have always thought of myself as a crane man first and a director second, so it matters enormously to me that EPMC is passing to people who truly understand cranes. In the WH Scott Group I have found exactly that: a business with deep engineering roots, a genuine commitment to safety and quality, and real respect for the people who have made EPMC what it is. I could not have wished for a better home for my team and our customers, and I look forward to watching the next chapter of EPMC’s story unfold.”

Gerrit de Groot said, “Joining the WH Scott Group is a great opportunity for our customers and our people. We keep everything that makes EPMC who we are: our team, our sites and our 24/7 service. At the same time, we gain the backing of an established international group and a much wider range of specialist services.”

EPMC Europe Crane Solutions is the tenth acquisition within the WH Scott Group, and the second this week. The acquisition supports the Group’s long-term strategy of expanding its technical capabilities and geographic footprint. With the support of investment partner Renatus Capital Partners, the Group is committed to building a market-leading network of companies that deliver innovative, compliant and reliable solutions across the UK, Ireland and now mainland Europe.