Papé Machinery acquires Arrow Machinery

Arrow Machinery of Colfax is now Papé Machinery after the 56-year-old operation was sold in a deal announced Dec. 28.

Papé Machinery acquired the assets of Arrow Machinery located in Colfax and Pomeroy. Arrow was an authorized dealer for John Deere Agriculture and Turf equipment, as well as Honda, STIHL, and several other manufacturers.

Papé Machinery is a member of The Papé Group, a fourth generation Northwest owned and operated company. Financial terms of the acquisition will not be released.

“We are nearing retirement age and we just came off a pretty good year so the timing was right,” said Dennis Solbrack, one of three co-owners of Arrow Machinery. Solbrack, Mike Parrish and Phil Henderson bought Arrow in 1982.

Papé has retained all of Arrow’s employees; Solbrack, Parrish and Henderson will continue to work for Papé as well. Parrish is the Colfax operation’s General Sales Manager while Solbrack is their New Product Engineer and Henderson works in sales and finance.

“Times have changed dramatically,” said Solbrack. “Farms are getting larger, machines larger, more productive and more expensive. Dealerships need to change as well. We looked at how our customers will need to be served not just this coming year but for many years to come. Papé has the ablility to do that today and into the future. We are pleased with all the quality Papé people we have met, and look forward to working with them as we transition the change.”

With the addition of Arrow Machinery, Papé Machinery now serves agricultural and turf customers from eight locations in Eastern Washington and North Idaho, and seven locations in Western Oregon.

“We are excited about this opportunity to offer John Deere Agriculture and Turf equipment to more customers in Eastern Washington,” said Rodger Spears, president of Papé Machinery. “Our team looks forward to providing customers in the Palouse with the consistent, quality customer service Papé has been known for since the company was founded in 1938.”

Papé Machinery will also continue to distribute, and support RAHCO Leveling Systems for both Hillside and Sidehill applications, and the new 50-foot folding drill.

Papé Machinery Inc. provides sales, rentals, parts, and service for construction, forestry, agricultural and turf equipment in Oregon, North Idaho, Washington, Northern California and Northwestern Nevada. In addition to its agricultural and turf locations, Papé Machinery has 21 construction and forestry locations in those states. Papé Machinery is part of The Papé Group Inc., headquartered in Eugene, Ore., a holding company for capital equipment dealerships throughout the West.

The businesses of The Papé Group sell, rent and service brands of capital equipment used in the construction, agricultural, turf, forestry, trucking and warehousing/materials handling industries. The Papé Group businesses include Papé Machinery Inc., Papé Material Handling Inc., Papé Kenworth, Ditch Witch Northwest, Bobcat West, Engineered Products and Papé Rents. The operations serve eight western states from Alaska to California.