SSA acquires four

PITTSBURGH, Penn.--Security Systems of America announced in September the acquisition of four Pennsylvania alarm companies over the preceding three months: Master-Tek Security, based in Oakdale; Universal Wiring & Maintenance, based here; Armor Security, based in New Alexandria; and the largest of the four, Protective Security, in Johnstown, where SSA will now keep a field office and staff. Details of the acquisitions were not released, but Andrew Nesky, administrator at SSA, said the company added a total of roughly 1,000 to 1,500 accounts in the transactions, which represents an increase in annual business of about 10 percent for SSA. Further, Protective comes with a central station, which SSA will keep in operation for the immediate future. Nor is SSA done acquiring. "We're constantly looking to grow," said Nesky. "Alarm companies aren't available every five minutes, though. You can't make them happen any time you'd like them to." For the time being, he said, "It's our intention to consolidate the [newly acquired companies], make sure all of the customers are happy, and make sure the transition is easy for them." Of the new accounts, Nesky estimated they were approximately 40 percent commercial, 60 percent residential. "Protective especially has its fingers in a lot of different stuff," he said. As does SSA. The company has a division called Cinetech that's strictly devoted to high-end residential automation and home theater, Nesky said, and SSA has recently completed a number of large integration projects that have capitalized on relationships with Lenel, AMAG, and the company's Pelco Endura certification.