Premier Engineering & Manufacturing Inc. was recently acquired by Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. in order to bring Premier's deicers into the existing product line.
The Wisconsin-based company, which manufactures equipment to deice aircraft, will continue to operate in the Marinettte production facility under Premier founder and Operations Director Jerry Derusha.
“We are excited to welcome Premier to TUG and Textron Specialized Vehicles,” said Kevin Holleran, president and CEO of Textron Specialized Vehicles in a news release. “Premier’s line of de-icers expands our already robust GSE product offerings, and allows us to offer our customers in the aviation industry a more complete line of proven, reliable and versatile products from leading brands in the GSE sector.”
Textron Specialized Vehicles' Ground Support Equipment (GSE) business currently includes other products manufactured under the TUG and Douglas equipment brands including, towbarless and conventional aircraft pushbacks, baggage and cargo tractors, belt loaders, air-starts and mobile HVAC units.
Premier was founded in 1991 in Marquette, Wisconsin, before relocating to its current base in Marinette, according to Premier's website. By 1992, Premier had introduced the "Hot Shot" series of deicer equipment, and by 1996 the company has received a United Airlines contract for 64 units.
"It is an honor to join TUG and Textron Specialized Vehicles and become a part of Textron, with its long heritage and legacy of leadership in aviation,” Derusha said. “This acquisition provides Premier’s business with additional resources and expertise to expand our product offerings, grow our business worldwide and ultimately better support our customers.”
Currently, Premier has over 1000 units throughout 15 countries in operation, according to Premier's website.
Textron Specialized Vehicles is manufacturer of ground support equipment, golf cars, and utility and persona transportation vehicles, based out of Providence, Rhode Island
