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

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