Davis-Ulmer acquires downstate sprinkler firm

Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Co., Inc., a leading upstate New York fire protection contractor, has acquired Westchester County-headquartered W&M Sprinkler Co., Inc., a move that allows it to further expand its state holdings and provides it entry into the New York City market.

In addition, Davis-Ulmer President R. Steven Ulmer also announced the company has opened a new office in Albany that now gives Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler locations in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Corning-Elmira, Albany and Westchester County/New York City.

Based in Amherst, Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler also serves the northern Pennsylvania and New England markets.

W&M Sprinkler conducts much of its business within New York City out of its Bronx facility and serves a variety of clients, ranging from commercial, residential and institutional facilities to public buildings, hotels, schools and retirement communities.

W&M Sprinkler has also been involved in a number of high-profile sprinkler system projects over the years, including the Lion House at the Bronx Zoo, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gotham Plaza, the Toys R Us store in Times Square, The Museum of American Folk Arts and the Orange County Correctional Facility.

"W&M Sprinkler is a nice fit for us," Ulmer said. "Their inspection and maintenance service business was very important to us because they were such a good match with what we do at Davis-Ulmer. This will be the first foray for Davis-Ulmer into the New York City region, where we see tremendous opportunity for immediate growth in the inspection and service areas of our business."

Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler is a 62-year-old, full-service fire protection contractor. It offers complete design, installation, fabrication, inspection and servicing of sprinkler systems and employs a total of 250 workers throughout New York State, which combine to serve 4,500 customers statewide.

"Since a new residential law was passed in 1999 involving sprinkler system installations in buildings higher than five stories, there's an estimated 8,000 buildings in the city that need to have these systems retrofitted," said Sami Khoueiri, executive vice president of W&M Sprinkler.