Palmer Johnson Enterprises — the parent company to a group of off-highway equipment sales and service providers, including distributor Palmer Johnson Power Systems (Sun Prairie, WI) — acquired Greenville, SC-based Continental Engines, a distributor specializing in diesel engines and generators.

Palmer Johnson said the move is a significant step in the company’s nationwide expansion and its commitment to diversifying its offerings within the off-highway equipment industry.

Continental Engines will continue to operate and support all of its current portfolio of distribution.

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Operating across the U.S. east coast, Continental Engines represents brands such as Hatz, JCB, Hyundai Doosan Infracore, Daedong, CRX, Yamaha, Kirloskar, AMT, Gorman-Rupp Pumps and DFX Technologies.

“Continental Engines brings an excellent reputation, a team of great people, years of expertise and strong vendor partnerships to the Palmer Johnson family of companies,” Palmer Johnson CEO Craig Parsons said in a Jan. 11 news release. “Expanding East has been in our strategic playbook for over a decade. Continental is the perfect fit, especially its people. Continental brings a highly talented team and an engaged owner, Jeff Cooper. Thankfully, Jeff will be staying on to lead the business forward. Also very excited about the value-add engineering and production/packaging capabilities this adds to PJ.”

With the deal, Palmer Johnson Enterprises is now comprised of Palmer Johnson Power Systems, Hamilton Power Solutions, Alterra Power Systems and Continental Engines. The company has 12 full-service locations throughout North America, including two in Canada.

Palmer Johnson acquired Bowers Transmission in 2015, Mill Log in 2019, Hamilton Engine in 2020 and started up Alterra Power Systems in 2021 as an industrial generator distributor. The company said the Continental acquisition aligns with the company’s vision and strengthens its position in the industrial and off-highway markets, particularly on the east coast.