Crush Software Solutions Acquires Leading Auto Recycling Platform with $3 Million Investment

Crush Software Solutions LLC has acquired S3 Software Solutions LLC, the developer of Crush, which serves as the largest yard management system for more than 200 self-service auto recycling yards across the United States and Canada. The ownership group, including family offices of Tom D. Klauer Jr. and Kendig K. Kneen, is committing an additional $3 million to reengineer the platform and add new capabilities. This financial backing comes from individuals with extensive auto recycling experience, having operated over 70 yards during the last three decades.

The acquisition positions Crush Software Solutions to accelerate development of Crush 2.0, with goals to double the system's footprint to over 400 yards by delivering a modern, cloud-hosted, enterprise-ready platform. Klauer emphasized that independent operators deserve technology that works for them, stating the company is building Crush 2.0 to give yards more control over buying, inventory and margin. The investment will modernize the platform and remove friction from daily operations so teams can focus on throughput and customer experience.

For current customers, the transition promises no immediate disruption, with the same highly secure platform receiving additional investment. Founder Dimitri Gerontis, who will serve as chief operating officer, noted that the new funding enables faster feature development, strengthened security and improved performance. The Crush 2.0 improvements include complete re-engineering of the software with modern cloud architecture, data-driven vehicle acquisition, integrated marketplace connections, and enterprise-grade analytics and security.

The company's near-term focus includes customer listening sessions, a transparent roadmap and early-access pilots in select markets. Ryan Paterson, a technology leader with more than 20 years in federal and commercial markets experience, will serve as chief executive officer. The leadership team combines deep auto recycling industry knowledge with technical expertise to drive the platform's evolution. This strategic move represents a significant step toward modernizing technology infrastructure for the auto recycling sector, particularly benefiting independent operators who have historically faced challenges accessing sophisticated yard management tools.