The Vmech Chariot mechanized vineyard pruner in action. Vmech Facebook photo

The local ag equipment industry is just a bit smaller with news of an acquisition among companies in the mechanization space.

Madera-based Westside Equipment Co., a pistachio and tomato harvester manufacturer, has acquired Vmech, a pioneering vineyard mechanization manufacturer in Fresno.

Robert Huckaby, CEO of Westside Equipment, announced the acquisition on his LinkedIn page last month.

“The addition of VMECH machines like the Chariot mechanized vineyard pruner to our product portfolio allows us to become one of the most versatile suppliers of premium farming equipment in the world,” Huckaby said in his LinkedIn post.

 

Westside Equipment also has locations in Woodland, Crows Landing and Five Points.

Founded in 1986, Westside Equipment started manufacturing machinery for the ag industry in 2001. It grew from a small operation with four employees to a global leader in the tomato harvesting equipment industry, according to its website. It has also expanded into pistachio harvesters and now vineyard equipment with Vmech.

Vmech owner Cole Gage is now the product sales manager at Westside Equipment. He previously began as a sales executive for Vmech in 2018, according to his LinkedIn profile.