US buyer gets showers firm

HUGHES Safety Showers has been snapped up by a US firm for an undisclosed sum.

The Bredbury-based manufacturer of emergency safety showers is now part of the $120m turnover Justrite Manufacturing Company, which is based in Chicago.

As part of the acquisition, Tony Hughes, whose father founded the firm in 1950, will step down from his role as managing director but will remain in an advisory role for new product development.

Paul Darlington, the longtime Hughes sales and marketing director, has been appointed managing director, and will oversee the business based out of its 38,000 sq ft facilities in Whitefield Road, where it has 80 employees.

Russ Guffee, vice president and general manager for Justrite Engineered Solutions, will work with Paul and lead the North American business.

Hughes Safety Showers, which has offices in France, Germany, Canada and the United Arab Emirates, makes emergency showers to be used in case of chemical spills.

The company exports to over 100 companies and has twice received a Queens Export Award.

Following the deal, Hughes will expand the Justrite product range for its customers in workplace safety, which includes laboratory, process or fullscale production environments.

Mark McElhinny, Justrite president and CEO, said: “Hughes is a perfect complement to Justrite in both product and geographical fit.