GERMANTOWN, Wis. — Designed to address the growing service gap in the multi-billion dollar construction equipment repair industry, Equipro, a subsidiary of Wacker, recently opened its latest franchise locations serving the Los Angeles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Raleigh, N.C., areas.

Equipro focuses on providing owners of light construction equipment with prompt, high-quality repair service, fast turnaround times and professional on-site support through a nationwide service alliance of original equipment manufacturing partners.

The new owners are Rick Boucher, Fort Worth; Bob Allen, Los Angeles; and Bob Spohr in Raleigh. Boucher, a 15-year veteran of the construction equipment rental industry, said, “With my previous experience in construction equipment, I know construction equipment rental centers and construction companies are looking for cost-effective, high-quality repair and service in a timely matter. Reduced processing time and automatic response to demand at the Equipro Service Center ensures customers timely access to replacement parts, thereby reducing equipment downtime.”

In related news, Equipro announced last month that nine of its branches have completed training to repair Lincoln Electric products.

Currently, Equipro non-competing alliance partners include ICS, Mi-T-M, MK Diamond, Sullair, Wacker and recently added Lincoln Electric. The company expects to add between two and four more major manufacturing partners to complete the business model.

Technicians from Equipro's branches in Atlanta, Fort Worth and Houston, Texas, Fredericksburg, Va., Charlotte, N.C., San Diego and Cerritos, Calif., Raleigh, N.C., and Minneapolis, have become certified to work on Lincoln Electric products.

Equipro services some of the most commonly used equipment in the light construction industry (weighing up to two and a half tons) including concrete chain saws, pressure washers, portable air compressors, pneumatic tools, floor saws, rammers, vibroplates, rollers, generators, welders and pumps.

Additionally, Equipro Service Centers provide support for the engines on equipment. Authorized full-service repair, parts and warranty support are available for Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kohler, Robin Subaru and Wacker-powered equipment.

Germantown, Wis.-based Equipro has 14 service centers in the United States. Company plans call for 20 open franchise locations by the end of 2006, totaling 150 within the next five to seven years.