Kovatch sells KME; all jobs to be retained

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The KME name will not change with the acquisition, and the privately held companies said the Nesquehoning manufacturing facility, which has about 700 employees, will not lose any jobs. In fact, KME said the facility is expected to increase its number of employees.

John Kovatch III, president and CEO of KME, will step down as part of the deal, which is expected to close this week. The companies said he will work directly with Tim Sullivan, REV Group’s CEO, during the transition.

Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Nesquehoning, KME has more than 800 employees with operations in five states. The company produces a broad portfolio of customized specialty vehicle products and markets them to fire-rescue, military, aviation and industrial customers globally. KME’s products include fire apparatus (pumpers, aerials, tankers), rescue vehicles and fuel trucks, among others.

“Over a span of 70 years, our family and company associates have proudly served our customers,” Kovatch III said.

“We are very proud of what our employees have accomplished over that time span and thank them for their hard work and dedication to outstanding customer service,” he said. “REV Group has great expertise in the specialty vehicle industry, and we look forward to even further growth with them in the years ahead.”

REV Group changed its name last year from Allied Specialty Vehicles.

KME headquarters and its primary manufacturing operations will remain in Nesquehoning. This facility, along with other KME facilities in Rockaway, N.J., Roanoke, Va., Ontario, Calif., and Albany, N.Y., will continue to be an integral part of its operations, according to a press release from KME. KME also has an independent dealer network that will continue promoting and selling the KME brand and product portfolio worldwide.

According to the KME website, Kovatch Corp. also owns auto dealerships in Nesquehoning and Lehighton. It is not known if the dealerships are part of the sale to REV Group.

A Kovatch Corp. spokeswoman this morning said she did not know if the sale was for the entire company.

REV Group Inc. is an approximately $2 billion annual-sales manufacturer of specialty vehicles serving multiple markets. In the commercial division, REV offers a full line of buses, terminal trucks, sweepers and mobility conversion vehicles. The fire and emergency division offers a complete line of fire apparatus and ambulance vehicles.

KME and the Kovatch Organization are global leaders in the supply of customized specialty trucks and vehicles. Markets served with trucks and vehicles include automotive, aviation, petro-chemical, industrial, energy, military, police and fire-rescue.