Buhler Industries
 | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| TSX: BUI | |
| Industry | Farm & Construction Machinery |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Marat Nogerov, President |
| Owner | Rostselmash[1] |
Number of employees | 1100 |
| Divisions | Versatile & Farm King |
| Website | www |
Buhler Industries Inc. was established in 1969 when John Buhler purchased "Standard Gas Engine Works", which was founded in 1932. The company produced the Farm King line of grain augers, snowblowers, mowers and compact implements. Buhler Industries expanded in 1982 with the purchase of the Allied line of front-end loaders and the company began trading on the TSE in 1994, at which time all products were marketed under the "Buhler" brand name.
The company acquired the Versatile Tractor division of New Holland Ag in the year 2000. Buhler purchased the Versatile tractor plant with a $32-million government loan.[2] According to labour historian Doug Smith, Buhler "provoked a strike by demanding a gutting of benefits and seniority provisions in the union contract".[2] The result was a prolonged strike that almost crippled the plant. However, the union took Buhler to the Manitoba Labour Board charging bargaining in bad faith and won a $6-million dollar settlement.[2][3][4]
Buhler pledged $5 million to build a performing arts centre in 2005 at the Morden Collegiate high school in Morden, Manitoba.[5] The donation was eventually withdrawn in the face of community opposition to the project and cost overruns.[5]
In 2001, the company endured a strike, in which "Over 250 men, all of them with at least twenty years of experience, lost their jobs."[6]
However, recent years have been marked by declining sales and slumping share prices: “Over the course of the last two years, annual sales have fallen by nearly 27 per cent, from $312 million in 2017 to $229.1 million for its year ending Sept. 30” [7] In 2019, share prices declined by 19%. [8]
In March 2014, there were calls for sanctions against several Russian members of Buhler's board of directors in connection to Vladamir Putin's actions in Crimea.[9] Konstantin Babkin, Yury Ryazanov and Dmitry Udras are connected to Rostselmash Ltd. and are said to be members of Russia's Action Party.[9] According to media reports, a video has recently emerged from a rally in Moscow that shows Babkin publicly supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine.[9] In March 2014, the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress called for an investigation of the Russian members of Buhler's board of directors.[10] No action was taken and no sanctions were placed on Buhler Industries or the board of directors.[citation needed]
John Buhler was made a Member of the Order of Canada (CM) in June 2012 with the citation: "For his contributions as an entrepreneur and philanthropist to education, health care and arts organizations in his province as an entrepreneur and philanthropist."[11]
Buhler Industries Inc. operates a total of eight factories in Canada and the United States. It is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
References
- ^ 25Nove2008[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c "Stickin' to the Union | | Fernwood Publishing". Archived from the original on 2014-03-26. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
- ^ "Union wins case against Buhler - The Western Producer". 14 June 2001.
- ^ "Buhler Versatile Workers Get $18 Million Settlement | Canadian Auto Workers | CAW". Archived from the original on 2013-12-12. Retrieved 2014-03-27.
- ^ a b Martin, Nick (18 June 2008). "Everyone in Morden Collegiate had seemed so happy..." Winnipeg Free Press – via www.winnipegfreepress.com.
- ^ Smith, Doug. (2004) Stickin' to the Union. Halifax: Fernwood Press, ISBN 9781552661413, p. 14.
- ^ Cash, Martin (2 January 2020). "Jan 2020: Sales are declining, stock price taking a beating". Winnipeg Free Press.
- ^ Cash, Martin (2 January 2020). "Jan 2020: Sales are declining, stock price taking a beating". Winnipeg Free Press.
- ^ a b c Cash, Martin (25 March 2014). "Firms skittish on Russian trade". Winnipeg Free Press – via www.winnipegfreepress.com.
- ^ "Ukrainian group wants probe into Winnipeg's Buhler Industries' Russian directors - CBC News".
- ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "The Governor General of Canada". The Governor General of Canada.