HKD Snowmakers Becomes Part Of HTI
The South Tyrolean HTI Group becomes the majority shareholder of HKD Snowmakers. HKD specializes in snowmaking systems with offices in the USA and Canada. This further strengthens the HTI Group's presence in the North American market.
The company, one of the market leaders in snowmaking systems in the US and Canada, recently generated revenue of $60 million and employs 80 people. HTI President Anton Seeber: "The goal of our group of companies is and remains to strive for sustainable, long-term success that secures jobs and generates local added value."
In 1973, Herman Kress Duprè (the company name is an acronym of his initials) developed the first snowmaking system in the mountains at the family's Seven Springs resort in Pennsylvania. In the early 1990s, Herman's son-in-law, Charles Santry, a trained geologist and environmental specialist, proposed commercializing this innovative technology. Thus, HKD Snowmakers was born, and the "HKD Standard" was introduced to the industry, quickly becoming the most effective snowmaker used by North American ski resorts. HKD continued to grow through acquisitions and, in 2011, merged with Canadian propeller manufacturer Turbocristal, adding propeller technology to its product line. Finally, in 2018, HKD acquired iSno, the controls and automation division of Lyme, New Hampshire-based Sno-Matic.
The HTI Group is strengthening its already solid position, which includes the cable car manufacturers Leitner, Poma, and Bartholet, the snow groomers and tracked vehicles from Prinoth, and the snowmaking expert Demaclenko, established in the European market, by integrating a leading North American snowmaking company. HKD generated sales of approximately $60 million in the past fiscal year with 80 employees.
This move is part of a strategy that has led to both geographical and thematic diversification of the South Tyrolean group's activities in recent years. In this context, a number of investments were made in North America: from a production facility in Utah to the acquisition of Jarraff (Vegetation Management) in Minnesota and the expansion of the Prinoth plants in Granby, Canada, and Leitner Poma of America in Grand Junction, Colorado. These investments are proving successful, thanks both to the growth of the North American winter tourism market, particularly in the USA, and to the recent political climate. "Made in the USA" is gaining increasing importance.
"We are pleased that our large corporate family in the United States is growing again with the addition of a company that aligns with our values," explains Anton Seeber, President of HTI: "HKD will operate like the other companies in our group, maintaining its autonomy and independence in order to respond efficiently and flexibly to the needs of its reference market. Through decentralization and diversification, our group pursues the goal of achieving sustainable and long-term success, which will enable us to secure jobs and generate added value in the regions where we are present."
"This is an extraordinary opportunity for all of us at HKD," said Charles Santry, President and Co-Founder of HKD. "Over the past 35 years, we have worked hard to become the technological leader in reliable and energy-efficient snowmaking. By joining forces with HTI and working closely with Demaclenko, we will now complete our current product offering and provide our customers in North America with the most diverse and reliable snowmaking technology currently available on the market."
The HTI Group combines innovative solutions and sustainable products in the fields of winter sports technology, urban mobility, material handling, snow and vegetation management, and renewable energies. As developers and manufacturers, the HTI companies are drivers of innovation and operate worldwide.
