Lion buys 2 fire training products companies

VANDALIA — Lion, a provider of firefighters’ protective apparel to fire departments, said Wednesday it has bought two companies that furnish fire and safety training systems and training centers.

Lion said the companies, BullEx Digital Safety, of Albany, N.Y., and HAAGEN Fire Training Products, based in the Netherlands, will operate as a new division to be known as Lion Training Resources Group.

Lion declined to say what it paid to buy the companies. They will continue to operate with their existing personnel in their current locations, Lion spokeswoman Hayley Fudge said.

The two companies have a combined work force of about 120 people. That increases Lion’s total work force to about 900, including 100 at its Vandalia headquarters.

The product lines of BullEx Digital Safety and HAAGEN include fire, safety and hazardous materials training tools, training systems and training centers used by fire departments, companies and governments worldwide, Lion officials said.

Steve Schwartz, Lion’s chief executive officer, has said his company wants to expand its business in training customers to use its firefighting products more effectively.

Formally known as Lion Apparel Inc., the company adopted the shorter trade name Lion in 2010. The company manufactures firefighters’ helmets at the National Composite Center in Kettering.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2242 or jnolan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

About the Author