Seven Decades of American-Made Innovation in Respiratory Protection
Louis M. Gerson Co., Inc. (“Gerson”), based in Middleborough, Massachusetts, is a manufacturer of NIOSH-approved respiratory protection and personal protective equipment solutions. During COVID Gerson played a critical role in keeping government officials and health care workers safe with their advanced N95 mask technology. Gerson has been acquired by Globus Group (“Globus”) based out of the UK.
Gerson was founded in 1956 when Louis M. Gerson set out to automate the production of a simple disposable paint filter in a small auto-repair garage in Boston, Massachusetts. Fast forward to today and, under the leadership of President and Owner Ron Gerson, the company has become a prime manufacturer of a full range of air-purifying respirators – from N95 filtering facepieces to half-mask and full-face respirators. Gerson's respirators have been produced in Middleborough, Massachusetts since 1985 using proprietary high-speed equipment and the company's own in-house melt-blown filter media.
Ron Gerson’s relationship with Highland’s team dates back to COVID when the demand for N95 mask protection was at its peak. The company had to meet the government demand to service all front-line healthcare workers, while maintaining their other key customers. Ron was able to acquire new equipment that was able to produce a more advanced N95 mask technology and service this intense demand. Following the pandemic as that demand cooled, there were additional operational hurdles as the company had to calculate what the new norm would be in their product mix, employee base, and manufacturing model. Alongside Ron’s innovations and engineering expertise, Jim Brennan was promoted to help Ron lead this company evolution with Highland helping as an advisor from the sidelines. Collectively, the decision was made that a new owner was the best path forward for Gerson, and Highland was engaged to help Gerson find the right next partner for the company.
Globus Group, headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, was the chosen next owner for Gerson as an entry for them into respiration products in the US. Globus is a world-leading manufacturer of personal protective equipment with more than 30 years of operating history selling across nearly 100 countries. Globus has aggressive plans to invest heavily into Gerson’s operations and the Gerson team will join Globus’s growing Americas platform, expanding the combined organization’s U.S. manufacturing footprint and capabilities.
Globus would not only prove to be an operational and growth partner to Gerson, but they would also be able to provide Ron the best exit possible ensuring his family would be taken care of for years to come. Ron will continue on in a consultative product development and innovation role.
Highland Advisory Group represented Ron Gerson and Louis M. Gerson Co., Inc. in its acquisition by Globus Group. Highland’s mission is to empower business owners with the tools, resources, and expertise needed for a successful exit - when they want to, on their terms, and at maximum value. At Highland, we empathize with and admire all that comes with being a business owner. Our sole purpose is to free successful and passionate business owners and give them the reward, recognition, and legacy-enhancing transition they deserve for their life’s work.
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