One of Western Pennsylvania's oldest companies, Beckwith Machinery Co., the Caterpillar dealer for the Pittsburgh region, was acquired Tuesday by Harrisburg-based Cleveland Brothers Holdings, Inc.
Cleveland Brothers also acquired One Call Rentals, a network of CAT Rental Stores. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"We're both Caterpillar dealers, so we've known each other for a long time. You have two very good companies that are going concerns. Nothing changes for our customers' or employees' points of view," said Dennis Stromberg, marketing director for Cleveland Brothers.
Murrysville-based Beckwith Machinery Co. was founded in 1907 by James S. Beckwith, a manufacturer's agent for construction machinery and supplies. When Caterpillar was formed in 1925, the family-run business became one of the first Caterpillar equipment dealers in the United States.
One Call Rentals handles Caterpillar compact construction equipment and allied equipment, such as air compressors and aerial lifts. One Call Rentals has three branches that operate in Mt. Pleasant, Westmoreland County, Neville Island in Allegheny County and Shinnston, W.Va.
Cleveland Brothers Holdings, Inc., is the parent of Cleveland Brothers Equipment Co. It was founded in 1948, and serves as the Caterpillar equipment dealer in northeastern and south central Pennsylvania. Cleveland Brothers also represents Sullair industrial and portable air compressors, JLG aerial lifts, Mauldin paving equipment, Godwin pumps, Wacker products and other related equipment.
Stromberg said the acquisition of Beckwith Machinery and One Call Rentals will increase its Caterpillar territory to include 59 counties in Pennsylvania, 17 counties in West Virginia and two counties in Maryland. The combined companies will employ about 1,400 people at 28 branch locations.
The deal also apparently ends the Beckwith family's involvement with the company. "They're out of the business entirely," Stromberg said. He also said the Beckwith name, along with about 700 workers, would be retained.
The majority of Beckwith's 350 unionized workers are represented by Local 66 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, based in Monroeville. James T. Kunz, business manager, could not be reached for comment yesterday. One group of unionized workers in Clarksburg, W.Va., are represented by Local 132 of the Operating Engineers union.
"All labor contracts are being honored," said Hank Murawski, manager of human resources for Beckwith Machinery. He said unionized workers are covered under five separate contracts, the earliest of which expires in mid-2007.
