Blogs & News
- Category: News
- DATE: January 3, 2023
H2I Group’s Strategic Acquisitions
Over the Past Five Years
H2I Group is the nation’s leader in design and build for projects across universities, hospitals, and entertainment venues across the nation. We excel in creating safe, welcoming spaces featuring state-of-the-art products and solutions. We are grateful for the long-standing relationships of our customers, valued supplier partners, and dedicated employees. Our success has been possible due to the acquisition of many companies that began as partners and merged into team members. Over the past five years, we made five important strategic acquisitions. Let’s take a look at these:
DOW DIVERSIFIED - 2019
On November 11, 2019, H2I Group announced the acquisition of Dow Diversified Inc., a California-based full-service research and scientific environments specialty contractor. At that time, Dow Diversified brought over 37 years of experience in providing state-of-the-art solutions and services for laboratories that serve clients in the western United States.
Dow Diversified Inc. joined the H2I Group team as an industry expert in the design and installation of laboratory casework and equipment. The acquisition of Dow Diversified allowed us to expand our total facility solutions in California and Arizona. The partnership has been focused on building continued success, improved service, and support for our valued clients.
Before 2019, Dow Diversified and H2I Group worked alongside each other for years providing similar laboratory furniture solutions in our respective territories. Joining forces allowed both teams to build on our strengths and further our mutual goal of leading the industry in innovative products, design assist technology, and efficient management systems, while continually improving our quality control and safe work practices.
The Dow Diversified team has fully transitioned its brand to H2I Group. Sue Clineff came from the Dow Diversified team and now is the Vice President of Sales at H2I Group. At the time of the acquisition, she said, “The acquisition amplified our commitment to providing exceptional products and excellent customer service. Our clients were able to take advantage of diverse product offerings in areas previously unexplored.”
PATON GROUP - 2019
On November 7, 2019, H2I Group announced the acquisition of Paton Group, a technology education solutions provider based in Altadena, California. Paton Group had nearly 30 years of experience in providing innovative solutions and personalized service to their clients in California, Nevada, and Hawaii.
H2I Group’s Technical Education division is a full-service supplier of products and solutions, including 3D printing, STEM/STEAM and fab labs, laser engraving, CNC machining, electronics, large format printing, Industry 4.0 solutions, and robotics for the K-12, higher education, and industrial markets. We are focused on the collaboration and support of education leaders in creating excellent career and technical education programs within high-performance primary and secondary learning environments.
The acquisition furthered H2I Group’s vision to be recognized as the national leader in employee ownership by creating sustained client, employee, and company success. At the time of the acquisition, H2I Group’s Senior Vice President of STEM, Nathan Thiesfeld, said, “We are so excited to partner with the Paton Group, as an employee-owned company our mission is to create an exceptional client experience and this team enhances that with their customer service in the western United States. We look forward to growing and expanding our technical product solutions and support in the West.”
Both H2I Group and Paton Group hoped that the partnership would not only benefit the employees but also their customers. In 2019, Frank Paton, Division Manager of Paton Group said, “We could not have chosen a better company to team up than H2I Group. Our team has been associated with H2I Group’s Education Technology team over the past 10 years. We have personally witnessed their emphasis on customer service and support. We believe our merger and partnership is a win-win situation for all parties: our valued clients and the Paton/H2I Group team moving forward. We are very excited!”
Paton Group Sales Manager, Chris Miller says, “We are absolutely delighted about the acquisition, H2I Group has been a trusted strategic partner for years. The synergy and customer-focused leadership from this acquisition will continue to allow us to offer the best technology in the industry and services to our customers.”
The Paton Group team will operate under their brand through 2023 and will fully transition to H2I Group by 2024.
NEXLAB DESIGN - 2020
On August 5, 2020, H2I Group, Inc. announced the acquisition of NexLab Design, Inc. based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. NexLab Design was a full-service laboratory casework and equipment dealer, in addition to providing services such as design, budgeting, custom specifications, site coordination, installation, training, testing, certifications, and support. NexLab provided services to institutional, educational, government, research, and healthcare markets.
NexLab Design has expanded H2I Group’s laboratory offerings in the South, with a specific focus on design capabilities. In a press release from 2020, H2I Group’s Chairman, Paul Fedje, said, “This is an exciting opportunity to advance H2I Group’s lab footprint in the south. Partnering with such an established and experienced company has made this process smooth. NexLab has seen great success for the last 16 years, and we look forward to the opportunity to grow with them throughout the region. We welcome them to our team as employee-owners!”
NexLab was founded in 2004 by Chris Neal, who said at the time of acquisition, “I have always enjoyed challenges, building things from scratch, and have an entrepreneurial spirit. I had spent 10 years working for a Hamilton dealer when I was offered the opportunity to start my own dealership 16 years ago. It fulfilled the things I enjoyed and my entrepreneurial spirit.”
Chris said the partnership of NexLab and H2I Group was the right fit, as he’d worked in alignment with the leadership of H2I Group for many years. The NexLab team liked the idea of joining a thriving ESOP culture. By joining H2I Group, they now have nationwide support and resources for their products and solutions. H2I Group gained an experienced team of laboratory specialists who understand the market and how to create an exceptional client experience.
NexLab has been a great fit culturally with H2I Group and our ESOP family. Their people and their relationships with customers throughout the southeast have been a big addition to our team. NexLab Design has fully transitioned its brand to H2I Group.
RPE Laser - 2019
On January 21, 2021, H2I Group announced the acquisition of RPE Laser Company. This move secured the expansion of H2I Group to include unique printing solutions, precision engraving, and highly innovative UV LED technology for brilliant imagery and communication.
At the time of acquisition, RPE Laser’s founder, John Volkmar commented, “When I realized it was time to retire, I knew that H2I Group would be the perfect partner to take over my valuable book of business. Many of my customers have become lifelong friends. I know H2I Group will keep and grow those relationships.”
Since 1992, RPE Laser has filled a void in the engraving industry. Their clients ranged from major corporations to small engraving shops. Because H2I Group specializes in construction projects in the market segments of education, athletics, government, and healthcare, the products and solutions made sense to offer to some current clients, and also allowed H2I Group to tap into other markets.
H2I Group’s President at the time of acquisition mentioned, “What John built, as a one-man operation, is incredibly impressive. Acquiring RPE laser is a great move for H2I Group.”
Knight Athletics- 2021
On November 3, 2021, H2I Group announced the acquisition of Pittsburgh-based, Knight Athletics. The merger fortified the construction and installation services for athletics and auditorium facilities throughout the Ohio Valley by combining two great companies.
Knight Athletics had a strong reputation for service and quality. The merger extended access to business services, management, and resources to help grow deeper relationships and broader services across the greater Ohio Valley.
The deal was in development since early 2021 with the strategic intent to fortify H2I Group’s national footprint and expand Knight’s service range. “Our companies started talking at the end of 2020, into Jan 2021,” said Toby Knight. “We had weathered the pressures of COVID, had no layoffs, no demotions, but realized to continue to go forward alone would take a long time. Partnering allowed us to do more, for more people, faster.”
Knight Athletics will fully transition its brand to H2I Group in 2023 with Toby Knight still leading the team at the Pittsburgh office.
Earlier Acquisitions By H2I Group
H2I Group is not a stranger to acquisitions. Our Acquisition history starts back in 1967 when H2I Group (then Haldeman Homme) acquired Anderson Ladd. Anderson Ladd was one of the USA’s largest hardwood flooring, weight room flooring, track flooring, and athletic flooring contractors. We still provide these services now under the H2I Group brand.
More recently, we acquired Performance Installation in 2011, IDEA (Iowa Direct Equipment & Appraisal) in 2012, Academic Specialties Texas in 2012, and Hicks-Ashby in 2014. See more about these companies on our About Us page, check out our current solutions, or contact us for more information.
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