27.07.2021

Kiloutou acquires Salmat/Jean-Bart Location

French rental company Kiloutou has strengthened its coverage in northern France with the acquisition of Salmat Location and Jean-Bart Location.

The two companies are part of a group founded by Jean-Luc Valcke of Oudalle based Valcke Et Compagnie, and offer the same range of equipment, including boom lifts, scissor lifts and spider lifts as well as telehandlers. Established in 1984, Salmat operates from seven locations across Normandy - Le Havre (Oudalle), Rouen, Le Neubourg, Evreux, Caen (Carpiquet and Giberville) and Cherbourg - while Jean Bart Location operates from Dunkirk, Lille (Nieppe) and Calais (Les Attaques) in north east France. The combined operation has around 100 employees people and a fleet of almost 3,500 machines. Lille based Salmat Nord, which shares the same trading name, is a completely independent business and not part of the acquisition.

Kiloutou France managing director Pierre Knoché, said: “This merger makes it possible to pool the strong levels of expertise of our two groups and to benefit from the presence of Salmat and Jean-Bart Location with an industrial clientele in very dynamic regions. I am very happy to welcome the 100 team members of Salmat and Jean-Bart Location who will be an essential engine for the further development of the Kiloutou Group in these two regions."

Jean-Luc Valcke added: “I am delighted that our companies are backing up the Kiloutou group. The proposed integration project was an essential element in this decision. It will allow our teams to continue development by combining their strengths as a regional rental company with those of a national brand while continuing to provide their customers with the excellent service that has made their reputation. I am confident in the ability of the teams from both groups to make this merger a real success.”