Bluffton, Indiana based McHenry Knitting and Manufacturing, Inc. has been acquired by Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading supplier of personal protective equipment.

The new owners say a new PIP company, McHenry Manufacturing Inc. (MMI), will operate the business in the same manner that made McHenry one of the leading suppliers of knitted and cut-and-sewn personal protective products in the industry.

The company says MMI will carry on the reputation for excellent customer service and rapid delivery of custom manufactured products that the industry has come to expect from McHenry.

"The acquisition of MMI is an exciting addition to PIP," says Joe Milot, President of PIP. "MMI builds on PIP's commitment of ‘Bringing the Best of the World' to the industrial market."

"MMI adds a substantial level of manufacturing capabilities to our organization," said Joe Milot III, Director of Manufacturing Operations at PIP.

 "MMI is a recognized industry leader of customized knitted and cut-and-sewn sleeves and apparel, offering customers world class service that cannot be offered by off-shore manufacturing. Steven Robins, who will oversee the MMI operations together with our subsidiary, PR Industries, Inc. in Minnesota, has thirty years of experience in the industry and is committed to expanding the manufacturing jobs here in the US and offering exceptional ‘Made in the USA' products."

 "With this addition of MMI, PIP will now be the leading domestic manufacturer of these crucial products for American industry", said Steven Robins, President of PR Industries.

"PIP offers MMI a solid financial profile and a history of service that will enable the McHenry organization to grow well into the future," commented Bob McHenry, founder of McHenry Knitting and Manufacturing. "I am pleased that McHenry has joined the PIP family and our traditions will continue."

McHenry Knitting and Manufacturing, Inc. was founded in 1994 by Bob McHenry and manufactures personal protective products from Kevlar, Dyneema and cotton circular and raschel knitted fabrics in its Bluffton, Indiana facility. The company's products include sleeves, aprons and protective hoods for industrial and construction applications and says it is committed to the highest quality in American made products as well as prompt service and delivery to distributors.

Protective Industrial Products is a U.S. based company jointly owned by Joe Milot, the company's president, and Wellson Tao, his partner. Since 1984, PIP has operated as a supplier of work gloves to distribution throughout the United States and in recent years, operations in Mexico, Australia, China and Panama have been developed to meet the needs of those countries.