Transplace Acquires M33 Integrated

Non asset-based third-party logistics (3PL) services provider Transplace said this week it has acquired M33 Integrated, a Greenville, S.C.-based 3PL serving the packaging, chemical, and advanced materials sectors.

A purchase price for the acquisition was not disclosed.

Transplace officials said that by bringing M33 Integrated into the fold, it “expands the company’s vertical expertise and geographical reach, and further supports the company’s commitment to strategic growth in order to meet the supply chain needs of its growing customer base.”

M33 provides technology tools, intelligence, and consulting services to help shippers optimize logistics and reduce transportation costs to support business goals.

The company’s Greensboro, N.C.-based operations center and its technology center in Greenville, S.C. will be renamed as the Transplace Southeastern Center of Excellence and be part of Transplace’s Transportation Management business, which is overseen by the segment’s president Frank McGuigan.

“While Transplace continues to achieve strong organic growth, we are always open to strategic acquisitions to supplement that growth,” McGuigan said in an interview.

“Acquiring M33 Integrated presented a tremendous opportunity for Transplace to grow both its customer base and talent while expanding the company’s vertical expertise and geographical reach. This is the fifth acquisition Transplace has made in the past 5 years.”

And he explained that M33 Integrated is a great fit for Transplace in two key areas, noting how M33 Integrated’s facilities in Greensboro NC and Greenville, SC are a great place to recruit talent – on top of the stellar leadership and knowledgeable and experienced employees that have now joined the Transplace team.

M33 Integrated employs more than 200 highly qualified logistics professionals and will add approximately more than 60 customers to Transplace’s customer base, he said.

“Transplace is committed to strategic growth and the continuous development of our people, processes and technology in order to provide our customers with outstanding service and innovative solutions,” McGuigan stated. “The addition of M33 Integrated’s knowledgeable, experienced team and logistics services better positions Transplace to deliver greater efficiencies and cost savings to our combined customer base as well as future customers.”

The Transplace executive said that acquiring M33 presents significant opportunity for Transplace’s customers in a number of ways, including:

• strengthening industry expertise as M33 Integrated has deep industry expertise and an excellent customer base, particularly within the packaging, chemical and advanced materials sectors. This strengthens Transplace’s ability to serve those markets
• expanding geographic presence as the addition of M33 Integrated, and its Greensboro, NC operations center and Greenville, SC technology center expands Transplace’s geographic footprint across North America;
• reinforcing its growth strategy by supporting Transplace’s strategy of complementing its strong organic growth with selective, strategic acquisitions in order to meet the supply chain needs of its growing customer base; and
• supporting a commitment to Customers by continuing to provide exceptional services and innovative solutions to its customers, and acquiring M33 Integrated further supports that commitment.

When asked how Transplace previously served shippers in the packaging, chemical and advanced materials sectors prior to this deal, McGuigan said that Transplace’s Transportation Management business currently enjoys multiple business relationships in all of these verticals, adding that Transplace’s experience has shown that greater depth and scale in all of these verticals drives value across the network.

“We are thrilled to join Transplace, which positions us to better serve our current customers and allows us to take advantage of Transplace’s experience and scale, along with its award-winning technology and Lean Six Sigma-based processes,” said Scott Riddle, senior partner and co-founder, M33 Integrated, in a statement.

“We look to continue to grow Transplace across geographical areas and industry verticals and provide superior service and value to existing and new customers.”

Related: Optimizing Third-Party Logistics Relationships and How to Avoid Commoditization