Germany / Netherlands - Krone Commercial Vehicle Group¹ of Werlte has signed an agreement to acquire all (100%) the shares of the Dutch moving floor trailer builder, Knapen Group², which is based in Deurne, The Netherlands and includes its subsidiaries Knapen Trailers BV (manufacturing and sales), Knapen Service BV (service and repairs) and Trailned BV (used, rental and spare parts business). Subject to approval by the respective regulatory authorities, Knapen Trailers, becomes one more of the growing number of subsidiary companies in the Krone group; Europe’s second largest trailer builder and manufacturer of forage harvesting equipment. Krone said it is fully committed to secure local employment in Deurne, The Netherlands by taking over not only all business activities, but also all production facilities.

In a joint statement, the companies said Knapen is to continue to operate as an independent company within the Krone Commercial Vehicle Group. The statement said: ‘The Knapen management team will remain in place without a reshuffle. The jobs at Deurne and the highly specialised Knapen sales network will remain unaffected by the move. In line with this, all Knapen products will continue to be sold exclusively through Knapen and its team.’