Textron Specialized Vehicles, through Textron Ground Support Equipment UK, has acquired Cheltenham-based manufacturer of aviation towing tractors and ground support vehicles, Douglas Equipment.
Douglas Equipment will operate as part of Textron Specialized Vehicles‘ ground support equipment business, which also includes TUG Technologies, based in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Douglas will continue to operate from its UK facilities in Cheltenham and Poyle, United Kingdom with its workforce of more than 90 employees intact. The Douglas brand will join the Textron Specialized Vehicles companies’ stable of brands alongside TUG, E-Z-GO, Cushman, and Bad Boy Buggies.
“We are excited to welcome Douglas to the Textron Specialized Vehicles family and to our ground support equipment business,” said Kevin Holleran, president of the Textron Specialized Vehicles group of Textron Inc. “The acquisition of Douglas and its unique brand and products, only a few months after our acquisition of TUG last spring, demonstrates our commitment to the GSE industry and our many customers.”
“Douglas brings to the Textron Specialized Vehicles group a strong European base, pioneering product lines, and a proven track record in the GSE industry,” said Stefaan Ver Eecke, vice president and general manager, GSE for Textron Specialized Vehicles. “Those advantages, combined with Textron’s resources and operational expertise, make for an exciting future to help accelerate our growth and expansion in the GSE sector.”
