Why this New York glove supplier bought an ear plug maker from California

Nov 06, 2018 • NEWS & EVENTS
Robin K. Cooper, Albany Business Review

Protective Industrial Products in Latham, New York, added 100 employees and expanded its presence in the food, drug and retail sectors when it acquired ear plug maker Hearos LLC of California last week.

"We are a leader in gloves and we are trying to establish a bigger presence in eye, respiratory and head protection," said chief human resource officer Bridget Milot Ren.

The acquisition of Hearos gives the second-generation glove, hard hat, and goggle supplier a bigger line of earplugs and a roster of new customers. Hearos sells tens of millions of earplugs a year through CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid, and music stores.

Protective Industrial Products was founded in 1984 by Joe Milot Sr. and Wellson Tao. Today, the company generates more than $275 million a year distributing safety gear that is worn by automakers, pipefitters, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and the guys who apply the red wax to Maker's Mark Bourbon bottles.

Milot Ren said Hearos founder Doug Pick and Protective Industrial Products started working together two years ago as Pick was trying to expand his business into the industrial safety market. Hearos is headquartered in Aliso Viejo near Huntington Beach, California, and manufactures earplugs in Mexico.

At some point, Hearos and Protective Industrial Products started talking about a partnership. Then, Protective Industrial Products announced last week it had acquired Hearos for an undisclosed price.

The acquisition gives Protective Industrial Products access to new products and new customers while giving the company more control over its earplug supply chain, Milot Ren said.

It also increases Protective Industrial Products' companywide payroll to about 450. The company employs approximately 180 people between its headquarters in Latham and its Guilderland Center distribution center and screen printing plant.

Protective Industrial Products has completed more than 20 acquisitions since the company was started 34 years ago. Revenue has grown from $113 million in 2011 to $275 million last year.

: https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/news/2018/11/06/latham-glove-supplier-bought-ear-plug-company.html

How D3O®iP™ Technology Is Setting A New Standard For Hand Protection

Impact-related hand injuries are the most common occupational hazards in the industrial work force. According to a study conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor between 2021-2022, 23 percent of all work-rel…

Enhancing Workplace Safety in the Construction Industry with Multi-Directional Head Protection Technology

It’s no surprise that workers in the construction industry are at a high risk of accidents; the industry consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous in the U.S. The causes of workplace injuries have…

Fentanyl in the Workplace: Addressing Occupational Risks and Leveraging the Right PPE

As the opioid crisis continues to cast a long shadow over society, one potent synthetic drug has emerged as a critical player in this devastating epidemic: fentanyl. While its potency has rai…

North America

Europe

Asia & Pacific

North America

Europe

Asia & Pacific

News, Articles & Events

Why this New York glove supplier bought an ear plug maker from California

MORE ARTICLES

Compare ()