A Brunswick County company that produces supplies for law enforcement and first responders nationwide has acquired a California emergency medical supply firm.
Officials with Leland-based firm Tri-Tech Forensics announced their acquisition of Hartwell Medical on Tuesday. The acquisition will expand Tri-tech’s emergency medical supply offerings and will “enhance the rapid growth of its Rescue Essentials division,” according to a news release.
“The strategic acquisition of Hartwell allows us to offer an extremely broad and deep product offering to our collective emergency medical customers and equip them with the tools required to achieve their mission-critical demands,” Jim Seidel, CEO of Tri-Tech Forensics, said in the release.
“Teaming with Hartwell’s exceptional reputation as a premium branded manufacturer of life-saving products will enable us to provide customers with a united vision to lead in first-responder markets,” he added.
Tri-Tech Forensics began producing kits for crime scene evidence collection in 1983. Founded in the Research Triangle, the company later moved its offices to Southport and then to Leland. Last summer, the company announced plans to lease more than 50,000 square feet in Leland’s International Commerce Center. The move allowed the company to accommodate ongoing growth, Seidel said at the time.
In addition to evidence collection kits and other crime scene investigation products, Tri-Tech’s Rescue Essentials brand provides emergency medical supplies and custom medical kits to local, state and federal agencies.
Carlsbad, California-based Hartwell Medical has for more than 30 years worked in the research and development of “improved patient care equipment and techniques,” according to Tuesday’s release.
The company, for example, created an extremity splint system using vacuum technology instead of rigid boards or an air-pressure splint. The company manufactures the EVAC-USPLINT® and the FASPLINT® – the two best-selling vacuum splint products in the U.S. Vacuum immobilization reduces tissue, nerve and vessel damage, which results in less pain for patients and a lower need for drug administration.
The company also introduced the CombiCarrier® – the market’s first combination backboard and scoop stretcher. The device helps save money and storage space by combining two products into one, according to the release.
Gary Williams, Hartwell Medical’s president and CEO said the company looks forward to combining with Tri-Tech Forensics.
“We are excited to join with Rescue Essentials and Tri-Tech Forensics and continue our mission of delivering innovative, field-proven solutions to the first responder community,” Williams stated in the release. “We look forward to combining forces and building on our heritage of innovation to provide the highest quality products to our customers.”
