Gasket maker Sur-Seal Co. of Cincinnati has a new CEO and has expanded into the Southeast by acquiring Mueller Custom Cut, a Charlotte, N.C.-based die cutter that produces gaskets, fasteners and other sealing products.
Mueller, which also does slitting, laminating and computer numerally controlled cutting, operates a 134,000-square-foot facility. Sur-Seal said it especially values Mueller's location and expertise in HVAC, aerospace, medical, renewable energy and electronics. Mueller also serves the automotive, lighting and health and safety markets.
The acquisition expands Sur-Seal's engineering and manufacturing abilities and broadens its range of performance materials.
"In addition to offering a variety of die-cut options, we can now offer our customers custom rubber and silicone molded and extruded parts," Mueller Vice President Pete Futia said in a news release. "We believe our customers will also appreciate the expansion of our supply chain services that will include storage, kitting, and parts assembly."
Just this month, Sur-Seal named Dana Waterman CEO, succeeding Larry Faist, who had been CEO since 2018 and has been with the company since 2013. Sur-Seal said Faist will transition to the company's board of directors.
Mueller was founded in 1940 by the Stober family as Mueller Belting & Specialty Co. Inc. in lower Manhattan, N.Y., and the next year began suppling leather fuel tank gaskets for U.S. fighter planes during World War II. The company eventually ended up in Charlotte by way of Englewood and Saddle Brook, N.J., and most recently was owned by Carl and Ken Stober.
Sur-Seal, which began in 1965 as a family-owned company, was bought last year by private equity firm Heartwood Partners of Norwalk, Conn.
Also last year, Sur-Seal acquired Spectex LLC, a Dover, N.H., specialty flexible materials converter.
Sur-Seal now has three U.S. plants, a distribution operation in Harrison, Ohio, and engineering service centers across the United States, Mexico and China.
With the addition of Mueller's 125 workers, Sur-Seal now employs 400.