
Allied Grain Systems is a major designer, fabricator and installer of private and commercial storages. Photo: AGS
ONE of Australia’s largest grain storage equipment companies, Allied Grain Systems, has been acquired by global bulk material conveying equipment firm, Mitchells Group.
Founded in 2004, AGS designs, manufactures and installs grain storage and handling systems.
AGS has its head office and metal fabrication workshop at Young in New South Wales, and a branch in Toowoomba, Queensland.
Mitchells Group started in 1978 as Mitchell Mill Systems in Canada, and the company expanded its manufacturing base in China before being purchased by Australian-owned company, Mitchells’ Holdings (Asia) Pte Ltd in 2006.
Mitchells Group further extended its global presence via the acquisition of Lincolnshire-based bulk material handling company Guttridge in 2019, which expanded Mitchells’ operations into the UK, Europe, and the Middle East and North Africa.
Mitchells’ took over AGS as of July 1, with AGS set to keep its current branding, existing management team, and Young and Toowoomba locations.
AGS founder and general manager John White said the sale would “create new opportunities for growth and innovation” and ultimately benefit “our customers and the broader agricultural community”.
“It is a really good fit, and it should be a really good outcome for our customers and our future customers,” Mr White said.
“We’ll still continue to do the majority of the design and engineering for the projects in Australia and a lot of the manufacturing.
“We still have a really good fabricating facility, and we want to grow and strengthen our ties out of Toowoomba to service southern Queensland and northern NSW.”
Mitchells’ CEO Mic Mittasch, an Australian engineer who has spearheaded the company since its sale in 2006, said combining the companies was expected to drive operational efficiencies, improve customer service, and foster innovation in product development.
“We are thrilled to welcome Allied Grain Systems into the Mitchells family,” Mr Mittasch said in a statement.
“This acquisition represents a significant step forward in our growth strategy, allowing us to offer a more complete suite of products and services to our customers globally.
“Allied Grain Systems has a stellar reputation for quality and innovation, and we are excited to leverage their expertise to better serve the agricultural sector.”
A mechanical engineer, Mr White leveraged his experience in the grain industry to establish AGS.
“I did lots of commercial work previously and did lots of conveyor designing and had a passion for the industry.
“My family started in agriculture in 1911 with my great-grandfather…so my family has a strong history in Australian agriculture.”
He said the company now employs about 60 people across the two locations and various work sites.
“We have grown both significantly over the years.
“We have done large projects like a port upgrade for Bunge last year in Bunbury, we did T-Ports at Wallaroo, and we are just doing a new rail upgrade for GrainCorp at Condobolin.”
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