Straub International acquires dealership in Wichita

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN
Straub International Inc. has announced the recent acquisition of the dealership assets of Caldwell Equipment Co. Inc. of Wichita.

Larry Straub, chief executive officer of the company, said the Straub organization assumed operations of the Wichita Case IH dealership as of May 1.

“We have stocked over $300,000 worth of parts and more are on the way. This will be a seamless transition as we have been successful in hiring all of the personnel from the previous Caldwell Equipment Co.’s Wichita location,” Straub said.

This acquisition will make Wichita the sixth market in Kansas in which Straub International is located. The others are Great Bend, Salina, Hutchinson, Marion and Larned.

The combined complex of stores will have more than 110 employees and cover a territory that comprises 25 percent of the counties in Kansas and two counties in Oklahoma.

Straub International traces its roots back 61 years and now has its fourth generation of family working with the business.

The dealership company is one of the largest Case IH dealerships in the Midwest. It also handles brands such as New Holland, Great Plains, Polaris and many others. The Caldwell Equipment located in Anthony was not part of the purchase, according to Straub.

“Unfortunately we were not able to make that store fit into our operation,” he said. “However, we will do everything possible to service the customers in that area.”

Caldwell Equipment will conduct an auction in the Anthony area in the near future; the location and date will be announced shortly.

Straub added that the company’s complex of stores will be able to bring an array of services and resources to the Wichita market that have not been available in the past.

Some of the additions will be GPS/Auto Guide technologies and a specially developed RTK Autoguidance tower system for the market.

Additionally, Straub’s will supply the large Case IH SPX series of self-propelled sprayers. Straub’s complex is one of only four Case IH dealers in Kansas authorized as a grower sprayer center.

“We are very excited at the prospect of servicing the south central Kansas and northern Oklahoma market, and we look forward to hosting an open house in the next couple of months to introduce ourselves to customers in the region.”

Sid Caldwell, president and previous owner of Caldwell Equipment, will continue as the store’s general manager.

“I have really enjoyed the past 13 years owning Caldwell Equipment Co.,” he said. “However, as I approached retirement age, I felt it was the right time for myself and my family to transfer ownership to another company.

“I feel the Straub organization is a very good fit for the market as well as my employees, and I look forward to my continued association with customers in the market.”

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