So Kohler sold off its small engine division?

y_p_w

y_p_w

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Saw something on it elsewhere. Did a search for the new name here and someone briefly mentioned it but it was a tangent and the discussion ended pretty quickly. I guess the new company is called Rehlko, which is obviously just an anagram of Kohler.

https://www.rehlko.com

David Kohler, Kohler Co. chair and CEO, said the decision was a “bold and strategic move for the future of our company.”​
​
“Over the last 150 years, Kohler has embraced a relentless pursuit of providing exceptional products, services, and experiences for our customers," he said. "This important moment in our journey signifies our commitment to deepening the focus and investment in Kohler’s Kitchen & Bath and Hospitality businesses and continuing to drive growth within our respective industries.​

Seemed to be a diverse portfolio. Had to look up what Kohler Hospitality did, and it's operating several hotels and resorts, including the Old Course Hotel in St Andrew's, Scotland. They don't operate the golf course though, which is by the St Andrew's Links Trust.

© 2025 Kohler Co. | 444 Highland Drive, Kohler, WI 53044​

Also chocolates and booze. Not sure about using the brand name for food or beverages given Kohler's best known product.

KohlerChocolateMint.jpg


https://kohlercollection.com/products/peanut-butter-pretzels-12oz.html

PB_PRETZELS__63907.1675957737.jpg
 
Zaedock said:
Heard about this yesterday watching Chicanic on youtube. It will be interesting to see what happens.
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Indeed it will be interesting. I have not studied anything about the new parent company, but I am concerned whether anything good will come out of this. I hope my cynicism is wrong. Look what has happened with the oil filter manufacturer consolidations. People here are now recommending asian built filters as the best alternative.
 
Smart move: jettison ICE while it still has value before BEV completely takes over. Thank commiefornia for this. Really hoping they stick to their guns & don't allow diesel heavy equipment in to rebuild all the burned up neighborhoods - only battery powered equipment.

1739450676281.webp
 
On the Chicanic video, she guessed that the main motivation for the new buyers is the commercial generator product line, in particular thir newly developed hydrogen powered technology.
 
The last sentence (in bold) in the below paragraph explains it all, and what the future holds:

On the Platinum Equity side, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and William Blair & Company LLC and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP will serve as financial and legal advisers, respectively. Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP will also work as debt financing counsel.
 
stevejones said:
Smart move: jettison ICE while it still has value before BEV completely takes over. Thank commiefornia for this. Really hoping they stick to their guns & don't allow diesel heavy equipment in to rebuild all the burned up neighborhoods - only battery powered equipment.

View attachment 263240
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Man, where was that thing when I was a kid? I would have had a blast running it in the yard.

On a side note, there really are actual backhoes nearly that tiny. The smallest one I've ever seen was so little it didn't even have a seat for the operator; instead he had to stand beside it and run it with a remote control.
 
Just talks about "Kohler Energy" being sold. Was that the main company that built the small engines? IDK I just don't see anything mentioned about their small engine business. Wouldn't surprise me after the whole shift in consumer demand & competing companies like B&S filing bankruptcy.

I bought two Kohler toilets in 2008 & used them all the way up to 2018 or so. Just had to replace the leaky flapper flush valve every 5 years.
 
fantastic said:
Just talks about "Kohler Energy" being sold. Was that the main company that built the small engines? IDK I just don't see anything mentioned about their small engine business. Wouldn't surprise me after the whole shift in consumer demand & competing companies like B&S filing bankruptcy.

I bought two Kohler toilets in 2008 & used them all the way up to 2018 or so. Just had to replace the leaky flapper flush valve every 5 years.
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Yeah - I think the company is more than just small engines, but I didn't know where else to put this other than maybe as a "none of the above" general topic. But yeah - they're now separate although they still seem to carry the same Kohler logo. Anyone want a Mossy Oak camo generator?

https://www.rehlko.com/home-energy

Blend_In_or_Stand_Out_5050_-_300.jpg


It does include small engines.

https://www.engines.rehlko.com
 
Energy/Engines moved to a seperate company under the rehlko name. The majority owner is Platinum Equity, which is the same company who purchased Tecumseh power back in 2007 and closed manufacturing in 2008. Hoping for the best for those in the local area which are employed by the rehlko operation in WI.
 
My cousin worked for a large distributor of small engines. Emissions regulations are getting stricter but do not really change the needs of end-users.

There are only a handful of competitors in this space (plus refurb which may use high-margin OEM parts).

With today's technolgy, batteries are not a practical alternative to fuel oil for most industrial applications. The media's narrative diverges from reality here.
 
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