Morris Industries Ltd., one of Canada’s leading and longestablished farm equipment manufacturers, has announced expanded new ownership led by Ben Voss.
“I am truly honoured and excited today to be part of the next chapter of what is a historic and iconic company,” says incoming President and CEO, Voss in a recent company release. “The company’s founder, Mr. George Morris had a vision to help farmers be more productive and he applied a great deal of innovation and ingenuity to his products and the way he manufactured them. I want to continue that tradition and build on that great legacy with even more innovation and success.”
Voss, an entrepreneur and successful executive for more than 19 years, also an active Saskatchewan grain farmer and agricultural engineer, will replace former CEO and majority shareholder Casey Davis. Voss and Davis made a joint decision to transition majority ownership to a group of investors led by Voss. Davis remains a minority shareholder of Morris, and will also remain on the board of directors, in an advisory role to the company. Voss has joined forces with and is backed by private investors including Avrio Capital and Lamont Brown Group. Avrio, has been an active investor in agricultural and food innovation and technology for the past 15 years and the Morris investment marks one of Avrio’s largest investments to date. Lamont Brown Group is a family office started by Keith Brown, a highly successful entrepreneur who started Trailtech Inc. Both Avrio and Lamont Brown Group are headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.
The change in ownership for Morris also marks a significant commitment to growth and re-investment in the company. Building on the recent announcements for advanced manufacturing technology investments, Morris will be undertaking an ambitious and exciting plan as a market leader, playing a key role in the future of farming around the world.
“This sale is a great opportunity for this Western Canadian success story to continue,” says former CEO, Casey Davis. “There are existing and evolving market opportunities that will continue to allow Morris to grow.”
Dareel Schindel, marketing and communications manager with the firm said investment is already under way in Yorkton.
“A very large technology investment is under way right now,” he told Yorkton This Week Tueday morning.
The investment will see two new lazer technology units brought onlone. The first is already in place, said Schindel, with a second larger, more complicated unit being installed now.
Schindel said hand-in-hand with the installation of the new equipment is training for staff in its operation.
According to Voss, the company’s commitment to farm machinery innovation will remain unchanged following the announcement. “Our plan ensures Morris remains a Western-Canadian owned and managed company that continues to innovate and serve the needs of farmers and our global partners, positioning ourselves as market leader and a key part of the future of farming around the world,” says Voss.
One of Canada’s oldest and most recognizable farm equipment manufacturers, Morris was started in 1929 by Mr. George Morris. Davis organized the acquisition of Morris in 2007 from Wendy Morris, daughter of Mr. George Morris, and grew the company into the successful enterprise it is today. Ben Voss joined Morris in 2015 as President and worked closely with Casey Davis to develop a new business plan based on innovation and reinvestment into the company’s research and development, manufacturing technology and product line-up.
With a strong and committed workforce and management team, along with over 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space in three facilities, in Western Canada. Morris has a capacity to manufacture and export precision farming equipment that is globally unique. For more information about Morris Industries Ltd., please visit www.Morris-Industries.com
