LEADER GROUP acquisition of MERCEDES TEXTILES expands its North American presence
LEADER GROUP has acquired Canadian manufacturer MERCEDES TEXTILES as part of its strategy to expand its international presence and strengthen its portfolio of firefighting and rescue equipment.
The acquisition brings together LEADER GROUP’s existing range of emergency response technologies with MERCEDES TEXTILES’ expertise in manufacturing fire hoses, fittings and portable pumps, enhancing the Group’s offering for fire and rescue services worldwide.
Founded in 1979 in Quebec, MERCEDES TEXTILES designs and manufactures equipment for municipal, military, industrial and wildland firefighting services. The company exports products to more than 50 countries through its three entities – MERCEDES TEXTILES Ltd., HIGHWATER HOSE Inc. and HYDRO-WICK INDUSTRIES Ltd.
LEADER GROUP said the acquisition will strengthen its long-term presence in North America while expanding its product offering, particularly for wildland firefighting, and supporting MERCEDES TEXTILES’ international growth through the Group’s global distribution network.
The move represents the latest stage in LEADER GROUP’s transformation from a specialist manufacturer into an international provider of complementary firefighting and rescue solutions.
Since 2021, the Group has doubled its revenue through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, including ZELUP in France and C.E.T. Fire Pumps in Canada.
The expanded portfolio now covers key operational requirements across emergency response, including fluorine-free foam concentrates, firefighting nozzles and monitors, ventilators, search and rescue equipment, portable pumps and high-performance fire hoses.
Miguel Ferreira, President & CEO of LEADER GROUP, said: “This operation marks a major milestone in the development of LEADER GROUP. With MERCEDES TEXTILES, we strengthen our presence in North America and expand our range of solutions dedicated to firefightingng and rescue professionals.
“This complementarity enables us to support our customers with an ever more complete, innovative, and high-performance offering, driven by a single mission: helping save lives.”