Mead O’Brien Buys Ulmer Equipment Co

Mead O'Brien, a North Kansas City-based manufacturer's representative and distributor has acquired a Fenton-based distributor of valves, water control gates, pipe seals and other materials.

Mead O'Brien Inc., which operates branches in St. Louis; Calvert City, Ky.; and Tulsa, Okla., purchased Ulmer Equipment Co. Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A Mead O'Brien executive said the deal will expand the company's product offerings in the water and wastewater industry.

"Our company has collaborated with the Ulmer family and President John Moore for many years and we are committed to providing uninterrupted service and strong representation in the Mead O'Brien tradition for quality manufacturers in the Ulmer portfolio," Mead O'Brien President Ron Morrison said in a release.

Blaine Ulmer founded Ulmer Equipment in 1956 and expanded the company to serve customers in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

"Starting a new chapter now as part of Mead O'Brien is the best outcome for our company and employees as we now have a much more complete product offering for the industry and the ability to competitively automate and provide field service for the products we represent," Moore said.

Mead O'Brien specializes in valves and valve automation, steam and hot water products and systems, instrumentation products, skid designs, field services, surveys, assessments and consulting. It operates in all or part of 10 states in the Midwest.

The family-owned company is working on transitioning Ulmer operations and employees to its St. Louis office.

About Mead O'Brien

Mead O’Brien specializes in valves & valve automation, steam & hot water products and systems, instrumentation products, skid designs, field services, surveys, assessments, and consulting. The extensive product and application knowledge possessed by their sales force projects to all or part of ten states in the Midwest which includes Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas Panhandle, Southern Illinois, Western Kentucky, and Southwest Indiana.

The company functions as a problem solver, innovator, and best total cost provider, not merely a sales organization. The term “solutions” is not a separate component but an integral part of their market approach to the Power, Refining, Chemical, Food & Beverage, Oil & Gas, Heavy Industrial, Water & Wastewater Treatment, and HVAC & Institutional markets. Customer problems in steam, water, and process control are solved through a combination of staff expertise, experience, and a wide breadth of specialized products from top manufacturers.

About Ulmer Equipment

Ulmer Equipment Company is a manufacturer’s representative and distributor.  Blaine Ulmer established the company in 1956.  Starting with three product lines, Blaine gradually grew the company into a multi-line agency with four salesmen.  Twenty years after working from home, Blaine built an office /warehouse in Fenton, MO, which is the current location.

Representing manufacturers with quality products is the essential ingredient to their overall success.  Ulmer Equipment can confidently recommend products that meets the customer’s needs and produce the desired results.