Ammann finalises acquisition of Volvo CE paving subsidiaries

Ammann announced it completed the acquisition of ABG from Volvo CE. (Image: Ammann)

The acquisition, which was originally revealed in December 2023, includes ABG’s facility in Hameln, Germany. The deal also includes the transfer of Volvo CE’s paving businesses in Linyi, China, and Bangalore, India, to Ammann.

A closing price was not made available. However, Volvo CE estimated last year that the sale would result in an operating loss (for quarter four of 2023) of about US$63 million.

According to Ammann, ABG pavers and screeds will continue to be produced at the facility in Hameln. Production facilities in Mehsana, India, and Suzhou, China, will also begin production in the near future.

“Ammann will leverage its industry knowledge and customer relationships to guide the development of the pavers, with ABG in Hameln (Germany) becoming the Center of Excellence for paving operations within the group,” said the company.

Dheeraj Panda, managing director of Ammann India, said, “This synergy elevates our capability to provide comprehensive, cutting-edge road construction equipment solutions across India and the globe. It strategically positions us to cater to India’s burgeoning infrastructure needs that are critical towards building a strong base for sustainable economic growth.

“With ABG’s strong product portfolio, we shall intensify our delivery of high-performance paving products that align perfectly with our history of excellence in asphalt paving and compaction.”

Ammann will retain the ABG brand name.

ABG Pavers’ screeds and products

According to Ammann, tracked and wheeled pavers will also become available through the ABG brand, but the company highlighted its screeds as being “key differentiators”.

“ABG provided the first hydraulically adjustable, high-compaction screed on the global market,” said Ammann. “Recent advances include the e+ screed heat system, which can save 30 minutes of warmup time each shift while also reducing CO₂ emissions.”

Ammann touted the “extensive” range of products it was acquiring through ABG, including a basic screed range of 1.5m to 13m (4.9 ft to 43 ft) paving width, ideal for airports and highways. The company noted that both fixed and variomatic screeds are available through ABG, which Ammann said is suitable for various materials, including asphalt, roller-compacted concrete, graded mineral mixes, and railway ballast.

“Variomatic screeds can pave at widths up to 10m (33 ft) and come with a range of compaction systems,” said Ammann. “They are adaptable to different project types, from cold mixes to hot mixes and special profiles. The electrically heated variomatic screeds are easily extended to more than double their basic width.”