Viking Acquires U.S. Turnout Gear Manufacturer

Leading marine safety equipment and servicing provider VIKING Life-Saving Equipment A/S has again invested in the North American market with the acquisition of turnout gear manufacturer Quest Enterprises, Inc., of Walsenburg, Colorado.

The move will see the Quest Enterprises and VIKING brands enter a new state of co-existence, each with its complementary strengths. Quest Enterprises will receive additional investment and its Walsenburg plant will become VIKING’s future base for US approved protective clothing for industrial fire-fighting. VIKING will continue to support the maritime and offshore industries from its existing US base in Miami, Florida.

The Quest Enterprises management team will be headed by VIKING’s Global Sales and Marketing Director Henrik Uhd Christensen. He is joined by new factory manager Hanne Dyrborg Lindstrøm and Soren Hansen as Director of Sales, US Fire Suits. Hansen comes from a position as VIKING’s sales manager for defense and fire at the company’s headquarters in Denmark. Quest Enterprises’ founder Jerry Fitzgerald will continue to work as a consultant and remains part of the management team.

A global leader in the safety industry, VIKING already leads the protective fire clothing market in several northern European countries and has a solid presence in Asia. More recently, the company has achieved a series of orders with large fire departments in the South American market.