LAS VEGAS - Computer accessories maker Fellowes Manufacturing Co. has acquired Chicago-based C-2 Inc. in the latest step of what Fellowes describes as an ``aggressive expansion'' of its business. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. C-2, with 1994 sales of $21 million, manufactures a line of computer dust covers, mouse pads, wrist rests, keyboard protectors and other molded products. Under the acquisition terms, Fellowes will retain the C-2 brand name and market the company's products alongside its own Fellowes Computerware brand.
Park Owens, vice president and general manager, said Fellowes saw good opportunities in selling to office products companies and through computer and consumer electronics mass merchandisers.
``The whole computer industry is still in an explosive mode,'' Owens said. ``We see very, very steady growth in accessories in both commercial channels and retail channels.''
Privately held Fellowes said its computer accessory business has been growing at an annual rate of 25 percent, gradually overtaking in sales the Banker's Box records storage business that had been its main line since the company's founding in 1917. Fellowes also markets paper shredders, a segment it says has shown dramatic growth.
Fellowes announced its Jan. 4 acquisition of C-2 at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show, held Jan. 6-9 in Las Vegas. Owens was reached by telephone at Fellowes headquarters in Itasca, Ill.
Fellowes, which makes more than 100 molded products, operates 25 injection presses at its Itasca plant, with clamping forces of 50-700 tons. The company also has a molding plant in Lyons, France.
C-2 does not mold its own products.
Owens said Fellowes had sales last year of more than $200 million. Also last year, Fellowes acquired a controlling interest in APT, a manufacturer of computer input devices in Paso Robles, Calif.