Safety product supplier Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), on Wednesday announced its intent to acquire West Chester Protective Gear (West Chester). Established in 1978, Cincinnati-based West Chester provides personal protective equipment to both the industrial and retail channels.

“We are elated by this partnership,” says Joe Milot, president and CEO of PIP. “West Chester has always been a highly respected competitor and over the years their executive and sales teams have built an excellent business model that complements ours at PIP beautifully.”

PIP intends to leverage the acquisition to provide distributors and retailers with an expanded product offering along with more flexible competitive solutions. “Our product category strengths complement each other extremely well, as does our customer base and our respective corporate cultures,” says Tim Fogarty, CEO of West Chester. “Our management team is excited to join with PIP and carry forward the customer-focused culture we have created and evident in both organizations.”

West Chester will retain its Cincinnati facility and retain its “highly experienced tenured sales team,” as well as head office staff. “[T]hey are key to meeting our combined, accelerated growth initiatives,” says Milot. 

Leading brands under PIP, a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity, are Safety Works, Brahma, Mud, West County Gardener and Hearos. The addition of West Chester will add an extensive line of industrial hand protection products, along with a protective apparel line consisting of high visibility clothing, disposable clothing, aprons and sleeves, rainwear and welding apparel.