Essmueller, which is based in Laurel, Mississippi, said the manufacturing has been moved to its Laurel plant and no changes are being made to the product line, other than an improved paint system using powder coating.
Replacement parts for gates previously manufactured by Abel will continue to be offered by Essmueller, the company said.
Harold Mauck, spokesman for Essmueller, said discussion about the acquisition began late last year and the transaction was finalized on Feb. 15. He said manufacturing at the Laurel plant began May 9.
He said the addition of the Abel product line will complement and expand Essmueller’s extensive line of bulk material handling equipment, which includes drag conveyors, bucket elevators, screw feeders and turnhead distributors.
Mauck added that Essmueller may eventually hire a few employees to handle the additional manufacturing output, “but, at least initially, we will handle staffing of the new department by internal promotions of highly skilled people to maintain the long Abel tradition of quality.”
