Airgas buys two companies

Industrial Distribution staff -- Industrial Distribution, 1/2/2008 5:31:00 AM

Airgas Inc. acquired Smith Welding Supply & Equipment Inc. and its affiliate, Bayer Welding Supply LLC, and added the industrial ammonia operations of Pacific Diazo Products Inc. to its specialty products division.

Smith and Bayer’s six branches in the Detroit area were integrated into the Radnor, Pa.-based industrial gases distributor’s Great Lakes regional division. The companies, which share a central fill plant in Ferndale, Mich., and operate branches in Wixom, Clinton, Detroit, Auburn Hills and Warren, all in Michigan, had combined sales of $16 million last year. Former owner Irving Sparage and about 60 employees will continue to manage the company under the Airgas Great Lakes banner.

Airgas also bought the industrial ammonia operations of Pacific Diazo Products, which distributes aqua ammonia, anhydrous ammonia and related products. The Colton, Calif.-based company, which had sales of $9 million last year, operates a production and distribution facility in Fontana, Calif., and two distribution centers in southern California and Arizona. Co-owner David Rubenstein will help manage the integration into the Airgas Specialty Products division, which co-owner Joseph Ennes III and roughly 20 employees will join.

Airgas ranked fifth on INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION’s 2007 Big 50 list of distributors, with sales of $3.2 billion during fiscal 2007.

Talkback

We would love your feedback!

Post a comment

» VIEW ALL TALKBACK THREADS

Related Content

• Topics
• Author

Related Content

 

By This Author

• Carolina Machine & Tool acquires Georgia distributor
• Applied Industrial sales for ‘08 reach $2.1 billion
• PTDA sales up in June
• RBC Bearings reports $92.4 million in Q1 2009 sales
• IDG acquisition by Luther King affiliate finalized
• » MORE

Sponsored Links