Ansell Limited announced the acquisition of the Hawkeye Glove Company's assets, including five U.S. factories, to form Ansell Hawkeye Inc. Hawkeye is the leading glove supplier to the U.S. military with approximately 10 percent share of the U.S. military glove market.
"The military channel has been of interest to Ansell for some time. As the leading organization in the field, Hawkeye brings an excellent opportunity for Ansell to develop its core business. We welcome Hawkeye aboard," said Bill Reed, Ansell's senior vice president and regional director of the Americas’ Occupational Division.
As a military supplier, Hawkeye Glove Company manufactures all its products in the U.S. as required under U.S. law. Its management has built the business based on strong experience in sourcing government contracts, developing new innovative gloves for military applications and a proven track record of working with the military logistics organization.
"Hawkeye brings to Ansell knowledge, expertise and technology in a channel which will be broadly incremental to our current business. It is a true 'bolt on' acquisition in a market sweet spot for Ansell. We look forward to working with Hawkeye's highly respected and knowledgeable management team and all its employees," said Doug Tough, Ansell's CEO.
The acquisition is another chapter in Ansell's strategy to grow in both existing business segments, as well as to expand into new channels, such as the military, via organic efforts and selective acquisitions. Hawkeye will continue to be managed by its current president, Jim Rodenborn, from the Fort Dodge, Iowa, headquarters for an extended period of time.
Hawkeye was founded in 1970 as a family-owned and operated organization. The company is a premier manufacturer of leather hand wear, with experience in cowhide, deerskin, elk skin, pig skin, goat and sheepskin gloves and mittens. Besides its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Fort Dodge, Hawkeye also has facilities in Illinois, Arkansas and Mississippi with a total number of employees exceeding 350.
