News, Articles & Events

STAFDA Announces Convention Keynote Speakers, Theme

Mar 30, 2015 • News & Events
Mike Hockett, Associate Editor, Industrial Distribution (www.inddist.com)

The Specialty Tools and Fasteners Distributors Association recently announced the keynote speakers and theme for this year's 39th Annual STAFDA Convention and Trade Show, held Nov. 8-10 in Phoenix.

STAFDA has announced that Robin Roberts, Senior Vice President-Sales, Protective Industrial Products Inc. (PIP) will present the Associated (Manufacturer) State-of-the-Industry Address during the general audience session on Nov. 9.

Roberts began his career in the safety industry working in sales for Jones Safety Supply, Roanoke, Va. He was quickly promoted to branch manager at their headquarter location. Shortly thereafter, in 1988, the company was acquired by W.W. Grainger. Three years later, he relocated to Chicago where he took on the responsibility of Product Manager. In that role, he interacting with multiple business units which included Allied Safety, the core Grainger distribution business, and Grainger's integrated supply business then known as GISO. In 1997, Roberts accepted a position of Vice President-Sales for the Bata Shoe Company (today, Onguard Industries). In 2000 he was recruited to lead the sales team for PIP where he's helped lead a sales expansion from $30 million in 2000 to over $200 million today. He has served on numerous safety industry committees and supplier advisory councils.

The members-only event is going with the theme "Swim With the Sharks" this year, highlighted by a keynote address from three "sharks" in the form of investors Lori Greiner, Daymond John, and Kevin O'Leary from ABC's Shark Tank.

Greiner is an inventor of retail products, having created over 400 products and holding 120 U.S. and international patents. Known for her popular jewelry and cosmetic organizers, she had her own show on QVC-TV for 16 years.

John created the fashion brand FUBU, standing for "For Us By Us," which represented a lifestyle neglected by clothing companies. FUBU's annual sales top $350 million, placing him in the same category as designer sportswear legends Donna Karan and Tommy Hilfiger.

In 1986 O'Leary co-founded SoftKey Software Products, a catalyst for consolidation in the software industry that raised over $1 billion and merged with Spinnaker Software and WordStar International. After additional mergers, in 1999, the Mattel Toy Company acquired O'Leary's company for $4.2 billion. In 2003, he became a co-investor in Storage Now, one of Canada's largest owner/operators of storage services. He's continued to evolve his business interests and currently is Chairman of O'Leary Funds, a publicly traded family of global equity and income funds.

SOURCE: http://www.inddist.com/news/2015/03/stafda-announces-convention-keynote-speakers-theme

What is Double Hearing Protection and When Would You Need It?

You might be asking yourself if double hearing protection is something you should be considering. In order to understand what double hearing protection is, let’s start by reviewing why it is needed. O…

6 Key Facts to Help Understand ARC Flash Risks

There are few things no utility worker wants to experience – ARC flash is one of them. The phenomenon is described as a sudden, bright, blinding light and heat that occurs because of a rapid release of en…

PIP Appoints New Chief Human Resources Officer

LATHAM, NY - September 15, 2020 - Protective Industrial Products, Inc. ("PIP"), a leading supplier of hand protection and PPE with more than 1,400 employees worldwide, announces the appointment of a new…

Hidden Risks on the Job Site

Nearly five million workers currently make up the American construction industry. That includes laborers, carpenters, trade and extraction workers, site managers and others. While it may not be apparent from a …

Winter Is Coming... Are You Ready?

Like it or not, winter will be here before we all know it. And now is the best time to start thinking about your plan of attack in order to get out in front of it. No matter what winter looks like for yo…

PIP Announces Salesforce Expansion in Latin America

LATHAM, NY - March 10, 2020 - Protective Industrial Products, Inc. ("PIP"), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products, announces the expansion of its salesforce in Latin America.…

PIP Launches New Line of Disposable Ear Plugs

LATHAM, NY - February 27, 2020 - Protective Industrial Products, Inc. ("PIP"), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products, announces the launch of a comprehensive lineup of disposable…

PIP Acquires Boss Glove and Safety Business

LATHAM, NY – December 4, 2019 – Protective Industrial Products, Inc. ("PIP"), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products, proudly announces the acquisition of the assets of the…

PIP Expands Information Technology Leadership to Sustain Future Growth Plans

LATHAM, NY – November 5, 2019 – Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products with over 1,100 employees worldwide, announces the expansion…

PIP Acquires Uniform Technology

LATHAM, NY - October 31, 2019 - Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading supplier of general safety products and supplies for critical environments, proudly announces the acquisition of Uniform…

PIP Expands Salesforce to Match Product Offering

LATHAM, NY - October 29, 2019 - Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products, announces the expansion of their industrial salesforce. PIP's…

Why Impact Protection?

Impact protection has been a hot topic in the hand protection space all year due to the roll-out and adaptation of the new American National Standard for Performance and Classification for Impact-Resistant…

Two of the Best Combine To Bring the Best Service

LATHAM, NY – September 30, 2019 – Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products, proudly announces the full integration of systems and…

Protective Industrial Products, Inc. Acquires Dynamic Safety Inc. in Canada

LATHAM, NY – June 28, 2019 – PIP Global Holdings Inc. (PIP Global), a leading global supplier of hand protection and general safety products, proudly announces the acquisition of DSI Safety Inc. (Dynamic…

Protective Industrial Products Inc. Announces 600,000 Square Foot Distribution Center in Olive Branch, Mississippi

LATHAM, NY – May 28, 2019 – Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products, proudly announces that it will open a 600,000 square foot…

Protective Industrial Products Inc. Acquires Glove and Sleeve Manufacturer Worldwide Protective Products LLC

LATHAM, NY – May 17, 2019 – Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP Global), a leading supplier of hand protection and general safety products, proudly announces the acquisition of Worldwide Protective…

Protective Industrial Products, Inc. Acquires QRP Gloves Inc. Leaders in Gloves and Finger Cots for Clean and Controlled Environments

LATHAM, NY – April 5, 2019 – Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading North American supplier of hand protection and general safety products, proudly announces its acquisition of QRP Gloves,…

Hi-Visibility Garments – The Future is Bright

Having spent 10 years in the fire protective clothing industry, I assumed marketing Hi-Vis garment was going to be easy. Turns out, it’s far more complex than I had anticipated. While we tend to think…

PIP to Acquire Safety Industry Leader, West Chester Protective Gear

LATHAM, NY – February 6, 2019 – Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a leading North American supplier of hand protection and general safety products, proudly announces the signing of a definitive…

Ten Things to Consider: Selecting the Right Hard Hat

If the hard hat is comfortable for the worker, it is more likely to remain on the workers head. The seasoned worker who has been on the worksite longer is accustomed to wearing a hard hat for long duratio…

Don't Be The "New Cheap Glove"

Overselling glove characteristics is an easy thing to do. It is , therefore, important that we pay careful attention to the attributes assigned to each of the gloves. The applications are vast and in many…

Trends in personal protective equipment 2020

Joseph Milot III, director of product management, Protective Industrial Products Inc. (PIP), discusses eyewear and protective clothing trends for 2020. For protective clothing, there’s been an increased…

Reusable vs. Disposable PPE: Why Switching to Gear You Can Reuse Makes Good Financial Sense

Nora Kirby, national account manager for Protective Industrial Products (PIP), weighs in on why switching to reusable PPE is a favorable alternative to using disposables amid the global pandemic. With…

Why this New York glove supplier bought an ear plug maker from California

Protective Industrial Products in Latham, New York, added 100 employees and expanded its presence in the food, drug and retail sectors when it acquired ear plug maker Hearos LLC of California last week. "We…

PIP Global Inc. Acquires Hearos LLC - A Leading Innovator of Ear Plug Technologies

LATHAM, NY – November 1, 2018 – PIP Global Inc. (“PIP”) announced the acquisition of California-based Hearos LLC (“Hearos”), along with its recognized brands of hearing protection. Proudly…

21 CFR: What does it mean for hand and arm protection?

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) controls all the regulations related to items that are added to food (i.e. direct additives) and items that may come in contact with food (i.e. indirect additives).…

Get A Grip!

Last weekend, I was helping someone move and got to experience firsthand the importance of having great grip. We all know the obvious importance of grip when handling sharp objects, but I really want to…

PIP Global Appoints Chief Operating Officer

LATHAM, NY - September 5, 2018 – Protective Industrial Products announces the appointment of Thomas (Tom) C. Fry in the position of Chief Operating Officer. Tom will report directly to President and…

Disposable Gloves for Heavy-Duty Industrial Jobs?

Many current studies related to the global safety market will highlight how disposable gloves account for growing share of glove consumption. One research document boldly professes that "disposable gloves…

PIP Offers New Expanded Lineup of Safety Works® Brand Respirators

Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP) is proud to announce the launch of its new Safety Works® series of Respiratory products. Working with a longstanding global partner, this comprehensive line…

Co-founders of PIP Global Partner with Audax Private Equity in Recapitalization of Company

BOSTON - (BUSINESS WIRE) - February 1, 2018 - Audax Private Equity ("Audax") today announced that it has partnered with the Milot and Tao families, co-founders of Protective Industrial Products Global…

Trends in Hearing Protection

Approximately 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise on the job every year, according to OSHA. Damaging noise can result in noise-induced hearing loss – something that OSHA notes…

Advisement of Ban on Powdered Disposable Gloves for Medical Applications

LATHAM, NY – January 4, 2017 – On December 19, 2016, the FDA published the final rule to ban powdered surgical gloves and powdered patient examination gloves used for medical applications. The FDA…

Redefining Hand Protection: A New Approach Based on Real Life Use and Risk

Over the years, the industry has struggled to equate cut resistance with actual risk. The recent updates to the ANSI 105 and EN 388 will provide a more uniformed approach to assessing the cut resistant…

PIP Acquires Georgia Glove Maker

Protective Industrial Products in Latham, New York has acquired Century Glove Inc. in Summerville, Georgia. It is the 20th acquisition for Joe Milot since 1984 when he had a disagreement with his bosses…

What?

It seems like every other article on hearing protection is talking about Noise Induced Hearing Loss. And for good reason; Noise Induced Hearing Loss, or NIHL as it’s commonly referred to, is a "slow…

No Two Arms are the Same

When it comes to arm protection, you don't have to settle for what's already out there. Each work environment, task, and person provides a different set of variables that affect the type of protection…

10 minutes with Bridget Milot of PIP

Bridget Milot remembers waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of invoices rolling across the fax machine when she was a little girl. She was 12 years old the first time her father, Joe Milot,…

Dude, Where's My Hands?

Proper safety on the job starts with being aware of your surroundings. A key part of this awareness is knowing the environment and knowing what protecive clothing to wear to be safe and compliant. Obviously…

Big data will help this company sell more gloves, goggles and hard hats

Bridget Milot believes that big data and a bigger information technology department will position Protective Industrial Products to gain a larger share of the market for safety goggles, hard hats and gloves.…

One Size Fits None

One of the most critical components of PPE is fit. A secure, comfortable fit helps increase worker safety and compliance. Adapting PPE designs so they can properly fit women, who are generally smaller…

PIP Drives Growth Through Investments in Technology and Announces Chief Information Officer

LATHAM, NY – August 12, 2016, Bridget Milot, Vice President of Administration and Corporate Counsel for Protective Industrial Products (PIP), is pleased to announce major investments in human capital…

Things That Go “Bump” Into Your Head

Have you ever been doing a simple task, not paying close attention to your surroundings and then accidently hit your head? It hurts! Imagine instead if it was a metal shelf or frame, piping, or a conveyor…

Cut Protection Fit for a Knight

Cut protection gloves have undergone a wide array of changes over the years. Original cut protection goes back centuries when metal armor and chainmail were used for protection. This was an effective tool…

What is Your Logo Saying?

More than its name, a company is identified and recognized by its logo. Whether we’re driving down the road or walking through a supermarket, our subconscious is constantly active. We see a common restaurant…

Don't Let the Heat Take You Out

We are currently in the midst of the season where our work environments expose us to the significant risk of heat stress illness. Understanding how your body works can help you avoid serious work related…

Blinded by the Night

We see it nearly every day on our commutes: a vehicle on the side of the road with a flat tire or a mechanical issue. As a daytime occurrence, these instances are very easy to identify. At night, however,…

PIP Adds a New Regional Sales Manager to it's Team

LATHAM, NY - June 22, 2016 - PIP is pleased to announce the addition of David Wilkes as Regional Sales Manager. David joins PIP with over 20 years of experience in the safety industry with a proven track…

You'll Never See it Coming

Safety glasses, generally speaking, have been developed to help provide impact protection for your eyes. With injury risks that can range from scratched corneas to total loss of vision, protective eyewear…

Eyes on Safety

As we commute in our cars, we often see people dressed in hi-vis vests and hard hats working along the side of the road. Often times we see signs that ask us to slow down, warn of danger and work zones…

"X" Marks Your Back

If you grew up playing sports, you remember some of the basic safety aspects you were taught. One of the first lessons you learn in baseball is, "Don't throw the ball to someone who isn't looking." An…

PIP Appoints New National Accounts Manager

LATHAM, NY – April 22, 2016, Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Samantha Robbins as a National Account Manager. With more than 25 years of experience …

Are You NFPA 70E Compliant?

It's difficult to discuss how critical identifying and using the proper PPE is for those performing electrical work without bringing up the tragedies that continue to take place weekly across the US. Especially…

It's Just a Hard Hat…Right?

We are in an age where innovation is accelerating all around us. Think about it; Ten years ago, rear projection TV's were still available for sale. Twelve years ago, many people were still using…

Maximizing Efficiency: Managing Waste & Cost

An incredible amount of time and effort is often spent reviewing product pricing over other considerations that impact a company's bottom line. Don’t read that the wrong way; while pricing re…

PIP Introduces Falcon™ Protective Gear

LATHAM, NY – April 6, 2016 Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), a global leader in Hand Protection and provider of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), is proud to announce the launch of Falcon™ Protective Gear - PIP's new line of protective rainwea…

Trends in Hearing Protection

Hearing loss is preventable. Why, then, is it still so common? NIOSH notes that occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. And according to OSHA, approximately…

Are You Sure Those Are Safety Glasses?

Over the years, style and technology have changed. While providing basically the same purpose, the look changes and the functionality improves. While some people embrace the changes, others fear it. Even…

PPE for Temp Workers Shouldn't Be Complicated

With construction season starting to warm up, everyone from Buyers, to Foremen, Safety Managers and Supervisors are inspecting and evaluating their PPE to ensure their workers remain safe and compli…

Vest or No Vest: That is the Question

A road construction worker. A parking lot attendant. Even a jogger running in your neighborhood. It's hard to go a day without seeing someone wearing a high visibility garment. And for good reason –…

PIP Acquires Retail Market Safety Products Leader, Safety Works

LATHAM, NY - February 19, 2016 - Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP), an Albany, NY based leader in personal protective equipment, has acquired SAFETY WORKS LLC., a rapidly growing provider of safety…

Don't Break the Bank on Cut Protection

Not all glove decisions are solely price driven; many Safety Managers are focused on finding the right glove for the job. According to a 2013 study from TriComB2B in partnership with the University Of…

In the Beginning, There were Clear Lenses

For decades, safety glasses with clear lenses have been the most common protective eyewear solution, and that pattern continues today. As a basic solution, they do provide good general protection. But…

PIP Realigns Salesforce for Continued Growth

LATHAM, NY - February 4, 2016 - In an effort to strengthen its best-in-class sales support and training in the Safety industry, Protective Industrial Product, Inc. is pleased to announce the realignment…

Trends in Eye Protection

In 2014, nearly 24,000 eye injuries involving days away from work occurred, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states. Workplace-related eye injuries can have lasting and devastating consequences. However,…

Glove and hard hat supplier doubles sales as construction and manufacturing grow

A rebound in the automotive and construction industries have helped Joe Milot's company double its revenue over the last five years. Milot is founder and president of Protective Industrial Products Inc.,…

Trends in Protective Clothing

For workers who wear protective clothing, getting dressed for the workday is serious business. Take a construction worker performing night work, for example. High-visibility clothing can help him be seen…

The State Of The Personal Protective Equipment Market

During the STAFDA 2015 Convention on Nov. 9 in Phoenix, AZ, the event's general session that morning included a "state of the industry" report on personal protective products from Robin Roberts, Vice President…

Top 5 Reasons To Choose Goatskin Leather

The material of your gloves is one of the most important factors when making a selection. The better the leather, the longer it lasts, the more comfort it delivers and the greater the safety. Here ar…

Don’t Leave Your Hands Naked

It’s often said that a worker’s greatest tools are their hands. With any job or task, there are minor or significant injury risks. In theory, this makes the need to provide appropriate protection while…

PIP Expands Domestic Manufacturing Facility

LATHAM, NY - Protective Industrial Products, Inc. (PIP) is pleased to announce it has recently broken ground on a multimillion dollar expansion of its PRI Industries, Inc. (PRI) manufacturing facility…

Don't Hazard a Guess

For those who have to work with chemicals, the hazards can be very painful, ranging from various degrees of skin irritation to chemical burns. The possibility of these injuries makes it critical to ensure…

PIP, DSM Dyneema Tee Up Partnership Supporting Educational Efforts for Next Generation of Workplace Safety Leaders

Organizations to Serve as Co-Premier Sponsors of ASSE Foundation's 2015 Safety Matters Golf Tournament, Demonstrate New Possibilities Combining Cut Protection and Comfort Will demonstrate cut resistant glo…

PIP Launches Two New Lines of Cut Protection Gloves

LATHAM, NY - May 12, 2015, Protective Industrial Products, Inc.(PIP) is a global leader in hand protection and a licensee of DSM Dyneema®, covering both American continents and Asia. Today, we are…

PIP'S Latest Innovation

The EVOLite® Skyworker™ Helmet is an extremely lightweight (under 1lb.) helmet designed for working at height that conforms to ANSI Z89.1-2014, Type I, Class C requirements, as well as the EN…

Protective Industrial Products Appoints Tim Kane as National Account Manager

Kurt Wanner, Vice President of National Accounts, is pleased to announce that Tim Kane will be joining his team as a National Account Manager. Tim will be responsible for HD Supply, Staples and Airgas…

Latham Glove Manufacturer Names New CFO

Protective Industrial Products has named Sean Weil as the Latham, New York-based manufacturer's new chief financial officer. Protective Industrial supplies hard hats, work gloves, safety goggles and reflective…

Executive Team Appointments at Protective Industrial Products

LATHAM, NY - The board of Protective Industrial Products is pleased announce the appointment of two new members to the executive management team effective immediately. Anthony Di Giovanni is now Vice Pres…

Protective Industrial Products National Account Team Expanded

Protective Industrial Products (PIP) is pleased to announce the expansion of its national accounts team. This newly created team will be led by Kurt Wanner who has accepted to lead it under the newly created…

PIP Expands Flame Resistant Clothing

PIP is pleased to announce additions to its FR Work Apparel clothing line. What is Flame Resistant apparel? Flame resistant apparel meets specific ASTM standards that deem the fabric flame resistant for…

PIP's Bouton® Optical has a Clear Vision with New Additions to its Eye Protection Program

PIP's Bouton Optical® continues to expand its already impressive line of Eye Protection Products with its new eyewear featuring the Reaction Goggle, Fortis™ II, and Zenon Z12F Foam. The Reaction…

Important Information Regarding U.S. Bound Containers

As an industrial distributor, you are likely aware of the current contract dispute between dockworkers represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union members (ILWU) and shipping companies…

Milot Family and PIP Employees to Be Honored by American Cancer Society

The Beacon of Hope Award honors remarkable individuals and organizations ALBANY, NY - The American Cancer Society (ACS) will honor the Milot family and Protective Industrial Products (PIP) employees at its a…

PIP Announces Key New Appointment and Additions

LATHAM, NY - NOVEMBER 11, 2014 - Protective Industrial Products is very pleased to announce the following appointment and additions to fuel our growth and innovation, while strengthening support of our…

PIP Aquires Safe Industries Inc

Latham, NY - June 11, 2014, Protective Industrial Products Inc. (PIP) is pleased to announce expansion of its US manufacturing footprint by acquiring Safe Industries Inc. of Gloversville, New York. For decades Safe…

Protective Industrial Products Donates $15,000 to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Local American Cancer Society to Benefit ALBANY, N.Y. - On Thursday, May 29, 2014, Protective Industrial Products (PIP) will present the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk with a check for $15,…

PIP Expands Marketing Team

Latham, NY - May 27th, 2014, Protective Industrial Products Inc. is pleased to announce expansion of its marketing team. NEW ADDITIONSJoining our team are two new marketers who will help augment our bra…

Protective Industrial Products Mourns the Loss of a Long-Standing Partner

Latham, NY - April 24, 2014 - PIP joins the members of Western Safety Associates (WSA) in mourning the loss of longtime partner and founder, Gene Philip Hall, who passed away the morning of April 21, 2014…

Protective Industrial Products (PIP) Introduces Its Latest Range of Cut Resistant Gloves with Dyneema® Fiber for the Chinese Market

Close Co-operation between PIP and DSM Dyneema Delivers Gloves with Reliable Cut Resistance Performance, Comfort and Cost Efficiency Shanghai, 8 April 2014 - At the 88th China (International) Occupati…

News, Articles & Events

STAFDA Announces Convention Keynote Speakers, Theme

MORE ARTICLES