Business News

3M to Acquire Quest Technologies Inc.

Monday 12. May 2008 - Acquisition Broadens Safety and Protection Equipment Offering

3M announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Quest Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of environmental monitoring equipment, including noise, heat stress and vibration monitors. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Quest Technologies adds its leading sound monitoring equipment to 3M’s broad spectrum of safety products for detection, protection and compliance. “Quest Technologies broadens our presence in the industrial hygiene and safety equipment markets by bringing its renowned sound monitoring technology to our strong offering of personal protective equipment,” said Julie Bushman, vice president and general manager, 3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division.

Occupational hearing loss is a serious problem. To help minimize the risk of hearing loss, noise dosimeters worn during work-shifts measure noise levels at all locations an employee visits. Quest’s noise dosimeter integrates an employee’s exposure to “sound over time” and calculates a number of values including “noise dose.” The noise dosimeter’s dosage value is then used to determine if the employee needs to enroll in a hearing conservation program.

Sound level meters from Quest Technologies are instruments designed to react to noise much like the human ear. The sound measurements taken are compared to known standards to identify whether the noise level could have a detrimental effect on people located near the noise source. Quest also brings its heat stress monitors, which help to determine the appropriate work/rest regimens for workers in situations where heat stress is a life safety and liability risk by measuring exposure to temperature, humidity and radiant heat.

3M is a global leading supplier of respiratory, hearing, eye protection, and other personal protective equipment products, providing customers with innovative technologies and solutions that help increase personal safety and productivity in markets such as first responder, industrial manufacturing, automotive, shipbuilding, military, home improvement contractors and consumer.

Quest employs approximately 95 people at its headquarters in Oconomowoc, Wis. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter, subject to customary closing conditions.