Topcon Acquires Precision Agriculture Specialist Digi-Star

Topcon Positioning Group has acquired Digi-Star, a leading company in agricultural solutions involving weight sensors and control systems for feeding, planting, fertiliser and harvest-equipment manufacturers. After several years of working together on development projects, Topcon sees Digi-Star and Topcon Precision Agriculture as a perfect fit, bringing complementary technologies and distribution channels to its rapidly growing precision agricultural division, said Ray O’Connor, president and CEO of Topcon.

At a time when many companies are decreasing their investment in agricultural markets, Topcon is increasingly optimistic about their growth based upon the company’s strong commitment to developing management systems and solutions that bring the power of the Internet of Things (IoT) to every farm.

Based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, USA, Digi-Star is a global supplier of electronic equipment, precision sensors, optical yield and feed management sensors, displays, position verification and software used by farmers and other equipment operators to precisely measure and analyse valuable data from critical farming processes. 

Synergies

Mac Moore, president and CEO of Digi-Star, said Topcon and Digi-Star have numerous synergies with electronics, sensors, and integration of specific user interfaces for the agriculture and industrial markets that will complement each other’s customers. Both companies will benefit from the expanded product lines and solutions that progressive customers depend upon for maximum profitability, he added.

In 2012, Digi-Star purchased RDS Technology, a United Kingdom-based company, which possesses similar technology for agricultural and construction applications – adding engineering, development and manufacturing facilities in Europe.

Albert Zahalka, president of Topcon Precision Agriculture, stated in addition to expanding the reach into the farm market segment, this will further extend the scope of field solutions to help continue strong growth while serving an expanded customer base for Topcon Precision Agriculture, for the aftermarket and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) clients.

OEMs

On the heels of the Topcon’s recent Wachendorff Elektronik acquisition, the German-based manufacturer of in-cab consoles, this acquisition is another key part of the company's global strategy to strengthen the ability to serve OEMs and continue the growth of Topcon manufacturing in Europe, Zahalka continued. It also increases the precision agriculture family to approximately 600 of their more than 2,000 Topcon Positioning Group employees worldwide.

Digi-Star currently employs more than 220 employees in its three locations, with approximately half located in the USA or Europe. Its operations will continue to be based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, to provide manufacturers, dealers and end users a high level of service, support and product expertise.