Industrial Scientific Corp. to be purchased by Fortive

Industrial Scientific Corp., a Robinson-based family-owned business that makes safety products and equipment for manufacturing workers, has an agreement to be acquired by Fortive Corp. of Everett, Wash. Terms were not disclosed. Fortive, a publicly held company with annual sales of $6.2 billion, makes industrial equipment and technical products.

The deal is expected to close by the end of the year.

Industrial Scientific has 700 employees worldwide, including about 400 at its Pittsburgh headquarters.

Justin McElhattan, president of Industrial Scientific, said he expects few changes following the acquisition and the deal will provide his company with more financial and technical resources.

“We are excited by the opportunities we will now have with the backing of Fortive,” he said. “As our vision of ending death on the job comes into focus, we will now have even more technological and financial support in that endeavor.”

Mr. McElhattan’s father, Kent

McElhattan, and his grandfather, Kenton McElhattan, founded Industrial Scientific in 1985 after buying the safety division of National Mine Service Co. and changing its name.

The company manufactures gas detection instruments at the local facility, which sits on 38 acres overlooking the Parkway West.

Although its roots are in safety gear for the coal industry, Industrial Scientific in recent years has broadened its markets to energy, automotive and other manufacturing sectors, as well as municipal water and wastewater treatment providers.

The company also has provided financial backing for several local robotics ventures, including Start bot and Discovery Robotics.