Grote acquires Star Headlight & Lantern

A group of men in a warehouse.
From left are Josh Wilbur, director of human resources for Grote Industries; Brian Blanton, CFO of Grote; Mike Grote, general manager of Star Safety Technologies by Grote; John Green, vice president and COO of Star Headlight & Lantern Co.; Christopher D. Jacobs, owner and CEO of Star Headlight & Lantern Co.; Dominic Grote, president of Grote.

Grote Industries acquired the 134-year-old Star Headlight & Lantern Co. The companies will now form the Star Safety Technologies by Grote, a holding company wholly owned by Grote Industries. 

Star will continue to support the rail, amber light and emergency lighting markets it's historically served while also innovating and benefitting from the combined resources and expertise of both companies, Grote says in a news release. 

[RELATED: Grote Industries expands Mexican facility]

"When looking for great companies that can help us serve our customers and markets better, the opportunity with Star was a perfect fit," says Dominic Grote, president and CEO of Grote Industries. "Both our companies have been built not only on strong family leadership and commitment to their customers but also on great people and team members that work together in an environment of trust, integrity, responsibility and respect. This addition to the Grote family of businesses demonstrates our commitment to embracing opportunities that will help us get closer to our customers and grow and scale our capability to innovate and bring safer, smarter products to the markets we serve." 

Mike Grote will serve as general manager of the holding company. 

"As a long-standing supplier partner to Grote for some of its key warning and hazard products, Star caught our attention with its great quality, innovation and approach to serving their markets. We are excited about building upon the rich legacy Star has developed over its 134-year, multigenerational history within the Jacobs family," he says. 

Christopher D. Jacobs is owner and CEO of Star Headlight & Lantern Co., which is headquartered in Avon, New York. 

"After much consideration and careful evaluation of what is best for Star, we are confident that under the Grote family care and leadership, the Jacobs family legacy of bringing innovative, high quality products to its customers will continue to prosper," he says. 


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