MacDon, the well-known Canadian manufacturer of self-propelled windrowers and combine headers, has been bought by fellow Canadian company and automotive parts maker Linamar for C$1.2 billion (approx. €800 million).
Expected to be finalised sometime Q1 2018, Linamar views MacDon as a critical piece of its long-term growth strategy to strengthen its position in the agricultural machinery sector and offer a full portfolio of grain and hay harvesting equipment. The plan is to combine it with Linamar’s agricultural harvesting business in Hungary, which manufactures maize and sunflower harvesting equipment, and since 2007, has produced MacDon’s combine pick-up header.
Originally founded as Killbery Industries in 1949, the 67-year-old MacDon family business operates from a 275,000m² manufacturing facility in Winnipeg (Manitoba), employs 1,400, has a similar number of dealers, and exports to over 40 countries. Based in Ontario, Linamar has almost 60 manufacturing facilities worldwide, employs 24,500 and had 2016 sales of over US$5 billion.
