DC Equipment Buys Madill Brand, Assets

Renowned logging equipment brand Madill has been acquired by New Zealand-based DC Equipment as the steep slope harvesting specialist seeks to integrate its new generation cable logging systems with Madill’s time-tested equipment and designs. Nicholson Mfg., a long-time sawmill debarker manufacturer, had owned Madill since 2011.

Interestingly, DC Equipment founder and owner Dale Ewers, a New Zealand logger, says he’s dreamed of owning a Madill yarder since childhood. “Madill is known for its durability, ability to perform and longevity—and those strong equipment features align with our current brand, Falcon,” he says.

Ewers believes adding the Madill brand and intellectual property under DC Equipment’s manufacturing umbrella helps achieve the company’s mission of “creating a safer and more productive steep-slope logging industry throughout the world.”

The acquisition also opens up potential benefits to other industries, and he sees the move as a stepping stone to not only helping the forest industry progress but also providing customers with solutions they need.

“We’re not here to be the biggest manufacturer; we’re here to provide the best solution for our customers,” Ewers says, adding there’s no plan to reinvent Madill products outside of integrating some of DC Equipment’s current and future technology and innovations. “There’s history, heritage and a heck of a lot of customer loyalty there that needs to be recognized,” he adds.

A brand in business more than 100 years, Madill has produced more than 3,000 yarders during that time. DC Equipment officials emphasize that current Madill customers can still receive parts and servicing through their current channels, and updates on the Madill acquisition will be posted on DC Equipment’s and Madill’s website and social media.

DC Equipment is an early pioneer in steep slope systems, manufacturing its Falcon products that include motorized grapple carriages, winch assist machines, yarders and camera systems since 2010. The company claims more than a million operational hours across the product lines with zero harm. In North America, Modern Machinery represents the Falcon brand in the U.S., and Great West Equipment in Canada.

Ewers says he started DC Equipment to mechanize and de-risk the steep slope logging environment, and the acquisition of Madill is another big step toward that goal. He sees a future that includes developing more integrated solutions, by leveraging automation and data capture and working to transition to lower emission machines.