BELTON, MO / NESCONSET, NY – R•O•M Corporation (“R•O•M”) is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Fire Research Corporation (“FRC”). FRC will become a subsidiary of R•O•M and maintain its presence in Nesconset, NY. FRC Founder Jack McLoughlin, along with his two other partners Toh Meng and Neocles Athanasiades, will continue in their current roles at FRC. Toh Meng will also assume the role of President of R•O•M’s Electrical Component Division. The transaction will allow both companies to share best practices and continue to develop quality products to better serve their customers. All FRC operations, including sales, customer service, engineering and production will remain based in Nesconset, NY.
The acquisition continues R•O•M’s long-term strategic initiative of growth through new product introduction, geographic expansion, strategic partnerships, and acquisitions. Steve Trembley, a Principal at Century Park Capital Partners, said “R•O•M has continued to expand its portfolio of safety-themed products to better address the requirements of several key industry verticals.” He added “The acquisition will provide FRC and R•O•M’s emergency customers with a single point solution for many of their product needs.”
Jeff Hupke, CEO of R•O•M, noted that “The reputation of the FRC brand is unparalleled.” He added, “With this acquisition, R•O•M becomes the largest supplier of emergency scene lighting, pressure governors and flow meters to the emergency sector. When combined with R•O•M’s strengths in roll-up doors and safety grating, we continue proving true to our mission to improve fire fighter safety and productivity.”
“For FRC customers, it is business as usual,” Mr. McLoughlin said. “Same location, same processes, same contacts. We want to continue our pursuit of innovation and great service.”
Mr. Hupke also noted that “outside sales coverage will also improve.” The R•O•M and FRC sales teams will work together and will review several options to improve the already robust customer service department. Both companies have a decades-long history of improving worker and firefighter safety and productivity through innovative, high-quality products.
With a stated goal of increasing exposure for FRC’s products and enhancing product development for R•O•M, Mr. Hupke and Mr. McLoughlin envision no major changes in facility operations, as both companies prepare for continued growth to keep up with demand. R•O•M currently has 286 employees at its Belton, MO, East Stroudsburg, PA, and West Saint Paul, MN facilities. FRC currently has 112 employees at its location in Nesconset, NY.
No financial terms were disclosed as part of the announcement, which was made jointly by Mr. McLoughlin and Mr. Hupke.
About R•O•M
R•O•M Corporation, founded in 1947, is headquartered in a 65,000 sq. ft. facility in suburban Kansas City, MO and specializes in building products that improve worker productivity and reduce workplace accidents associated with slips, trips, falls, and muscle strains. The company employs talented tradesmen, machinists, engineers, and sales and customer service professionals in 11 different states. R•O•M product solutions are marketed to emergency responders, truck and trailer operators, food and pharmaceutical manufacturers, telecommunication and utility workers, and other specialty vehicle occupations. For more information on R•O•M, please visitwww.romcorp.com.
About Fire Research Corporation
FRC, founded in 1968 and based in Nesconset, NY, develops, manufactures, and distributes safety equipment, controls, instrumentation and displays, scene lights, and station accessories for fire rescue and emergency services vehicles. The company’s paddlewheel type flow sensor technology is now the standard used in fire pump plumbing for flow meters. FRC’s innovative pressure governors and lighting products are used worldwide. For more information on FRC, please visit www.fireresearch.com.
About Century Park Capital Partners:
Century Park Capital Partners is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm that partners with owner/managers to build successful companies. The firm specializes in facilitating owner liquidity and business expansion by providing $10 million to $40 million equity investments for minority and majority recapitalizations, growth financings, management-led buyouts and acquisition financings. Century Park seeks to support management in accelerating the growth curve of well-positioned companies by investing in infrastructure, internal growth initiatives, and strategic acquisitions. For more information on Century Park Capital Partners, please visit www.centuryparkcapital.com.
