Des Moines, Iowa-based Waldinger Corp. has purchased Wolin Mechanical-Electrical, another local contractor. Terms were not disclosed.
The deal, which closed June 30, creates a 750-employee company, including more than 100 local sheet metal workers. The combined company now has the largest 24-hour maintenance and repair service fleet in the state, officials said.
Wolin principal David Stroh will be president of Waldinger’s mechanical operations in Iowa and Tom Mass, another Wolin principal, will head electrical operations. Both men will report to Waldinger Iowa division President Guy Gast. Gast also served as president of the Sheet Metal and Air-Conditioning Contractors’ National Association in 2015-2016.
Company officials said Wolin and Waldinger customers will see little change.
“The construction and service industries are challenged by worker shortages, baby boomer retirements and succession planning — all amidst expanded opportunities. To deliver to the expectations of our customers, we need a very talented workforce – in all areas, so this deal is very strategic for both companies,” said Waldinger CEO Tom Koehn. “I have great respect for Dave Stroh and Tom Mass and the talented team they’ve assembled. Together we plan to continue to grow, to create opportunities for our employees, and to deliver incredible value to our customers.”
Waldinger was founded as Capital City Tin Shop in 1906 by Harry Waldinger, an Austrian tinsmith. It eventually become of the largest sheet metal contractors in the U.S. A piping and plumbing division was added in the 1960s and Des Moines-based electrical division opened in 2002. Additional Waldinger operations are in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri; St. Louis; Dodge City and Wichita, Kansas; and the Quad Cities region of Iowa and Illinois.
An estimated 150 sheet metal workers are based in the Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri operations, as well as 400 additional mechanical and electrical workers, technicians and office staff. Midwest staffing totals 1,300.
Wolin was founded by Melvin “Mubbs” Wolin in 1920, an early believer in sustainability, Wolin designed buildings to last forever, officials said.