Toro buys utility equipment from Astec Underground

Landscaping and mini-skid steer manufacturer The Toro Company has acquired a range of utility and underground equipment from Astec Underground, a subsidiary of Astec Industries, for an undisclosed price.

The deal gives Toro vibratory plows, trenchers and horizontal directional drills, all of which were produced by Astec in Loudon, Tennessee. Toro is not acquiring Astec's Trencor products line.

These products are typically used in the installation, repair and replacement of utilities, with customers in power distribution, telecommunications, utility companies, and landscape and irrigation contractors.

"This acquisition helps further grow Toro's product presence in the landscape and ground engaging markets, along with providing access to a new category close to our core businesses," said Rick Rodier, general manager of Toro's Sitework Systems Business.

"The underground utilities space represents a market in which we don't compete today, but one we believe provides great opportunity to drive global share growth in these new categories."

Based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Astec Industries makes equipment for asphalt road building, aggregate processing, pipeline and utility trenching, and wood processing.

Toro makes a wide range of landscaping and contracting equipment, including mowers, landscaping tools for the golf and parks industries, as well as the Dingo tool carrier and trenchers.