Carlson Holdings, Inc. has acquired Mid-Atlantic Fasteners, a distribution company that focuses on the fastening and packaging industries.

Carlson Holdings is the holding company for Carlson Systems as well as for Carlson Systems Engineering and Advanced Connector Systems. The acquisition was announced on March 31.

Mid-Atlantic was founded in 1948 and has its corporate headquarters in Jessup, Md. It has 23 distribution centers and sales offices in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.

"Over the last 12 to 18 months, we had looked at a number of acquisition opportunities," said Gary Gettle, president of Carlson. "We realized that [Mid-Atlantic] operates under very similar values to Carlson Holdings. We have three major values: teamwork, respect and integrity. Those values guide every decision we make every day...And they pretty much live those same values."

The acquisition expands Carlson's territory into the Eastern United States.

Founded in 1947, Carlson Systems is a distributor of packaging, fastening and construction supplies. It has more than 35 locations in the United States and Mexico.

Carlson Systems Engineering supports the parent organization with custom-designed packaging and fastening machines. Advanced Connector Systems is a metal forming and fabricating company, specializing in the framing and construction industries.

Gettle also hinted that more acquisitions may be on the horizon for Carlson.

"Part of our long-range strategy is to grow not only organically but also via acquisitions," he said. "We're continually looking at acquisition opportunities."