VES-Afternoon tea and sushi

Four years ago, fire manufacturer VES was acquired by Kentec Electronics, a U.K.-based manufacturer of fire panels. At the time, an executive at VES (formerly Viking Electronic Services) said that “joining with Kentec brings us the international experience we didn't have previously.” The official cited India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and other Arab countries as the markets the company would move into.

Now, it looks like VES' international experience may get even broader as its parent company, Kentec, is acquired by a Tokyo-based fire manufacturer.

According to a recent news report, Hochiki Corporation Japan has entered into an agreement to acquire Kentec's stock as of Oct. 1. Then, the report said, Kentec will become part of the Hochiki Group of Companies.

The Aug. 23 release said that “Kentec Electronics will continue to be run by its current management team as a separate unit within Hochiki Corporation Japan and will continue to use existing suppliers and support all of its customers including the current sensor partners.”

And it said that its American subsidiary, VES, “will be amalgamated with Hochiki America Corporation and continue to operate from its east coast base in the United States.”

The release said that Hochiki was established in 1918 as Japan's first fire alarm manufacturer. The report called Hochiki “a leading manufacturer of fire detection products with an expanding presence across the world.”

Kentec was founded in 1985. Together with VES, it “produces and supplies a range of control panels for fire detection, extinguishing media release, water and smoke detection and sprinkler control,” the report said.

The report said that Kentec “believes this is an opportunity to benefit both parties and to further develop its business and allow access to new World wide markets.”

How specifically will VES benefit? I've reached out to the company, and hope to find out.