FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hastings, MI, U.S.A. – The Viking Group, a leading manufacturer and distributor of fire protection products and services, announces its acquisition of the fire protection CPVC business in Charlestown, Indiana from NIBCO, Inc.  Based in Elkhart, Indiana, NIBCO has been a leading manufacturer of valves, fittings and flow control products since 1904.  For over a decade NIBCO has produced a broad range of BlazeMaster® CPVC fittings for the fire sprinkler industry.  In acquiring this business, Viking will integrate production of CPVC fittings into its existing Viking Plastics business.  The acquisition further aligns Viking to provide a complete, vertically integrated solution for BlazeMaster® CPVC fire sprinkler systems.

BlazeMaster® CPVC compounds have long set the standard for performance and acceptance.  Developed, tested, and refined at Lubrizol Advanced Materials’ research and development center, BlazeMaster® compounds are specially formulated to ensure the highest system integrity.  And, with the most complete listings and approvals available, BlazeMaster® CPVC products can be installed in a wide variety of applications.  By combining the BlazeMaster® CPVC system with Viking’s innovative Freedom® line of residential fire sprinklers, contractors have access to the most complete, highest performing residential fire sprinkler package in the industry.

Viking and NIBCO will work closely to ensure a seamless transition of NIBCO’s current production facility in Charlestown, Indiana.  Under the terms of the agreement, NIBCO branded CPVC fittings will continue to be produced at the facility through April 2019.  Moving forward, Viking intends to maintain production of fire sprinkler CPVC fittings at the Charlestown facility and continue to manufacture CPVC pipe at its Huntsville, Alabama facility.

Through vertical integration, Viking now has more control over the complete CPVC manufacturing and distribution process.  In announcing the acquisition, James Golinveaux, President and CEO of The Viking Group added, “This move further strengthens Viking’s position in the residential sprinkler market.  By owning the entire process, from manufacture through delivery, we’ve enhanced our unique ability to offer customers a true single-source solution for CPVC fire sprinkler systems.”

Viking Group is a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of innovative fire protection and life safety systems.  For nearly 100 years the company’s products and services have protected lives and property worldwide from the devastating effects of fire.  For more information on Viking’s complete line of fire protection products and services available exclusively in North America through the Viking SupplyNet distribution network, please visit www.vikinggroupinc.com or call 800-968-9501.