Category: News

As part of our continuous effort to provide our customers with the best possible service, The Hiller Companies is pleased to announce the launch of our new online bill payment platform, E-Bill Express beginning Monday, May 13th, 2024.

With the new E-Bill Express portal, making payments has never been easier or more secure. You can now pay your invoices online via ACH or Credit Card with just a few clicks, starting with the pay invoice button on this website. The portal offers a guest payment option, or you can manage all aspects of your invoice payment by simply enrolling.

In our commitment to maintaining sustainable operations and ensuring the continued success of our business, we are implementing a new policy regarding credit card transactions. Starting June 3rd, 2024, a credit card convenience fee of 3% will be added to all Credit Card payments. This fee is necessary to offset the increasing costs associated with credit processing, and we want to assure you it does not apply to payments made via ACH.

As Hiller Companies continues to grow and expand its life safety footprint, we pledge to keep our customers top of mind while striving to design, install, and service the most compliant, reliable systems available with the utmost commitment to customer service

Announcement Letter

Haven Green by Hiller is the first U.S.C.G.-approved fire fluorine-free fire fighting foam on the market.

Mobile, Alabama – January 22, 2024 – The Hiller Companies, a leading fire and life safety service provider, is proud to announce that Hiller Haven Green, its fluorine-free firefighting foam, has been approved by the United States Coast Guard (U.S.C.G.). As the first to market with an approved fluorine-free foam product, Hiller looks forward to serving customers worldwide seeking a replacement for Aqueous Film Forming Foam (A.F.F.F.).

“Hiller Haven Green allows us to provide our customers with a safe, effective alternative to A.F.F.F.,” Hiller President and C.E.O. Santiago Perez said. “We are thrilled to have a U.S.C.G-approved fluorine-free foam product available today, and we are extremely proud of the team who worked tirelessly to make this happen.”

Hiller has been actively researching and investing in the development of Hiller Haven Green as an effective replacement for the current A.F.F.F. firefighting foams over the last two years. Because A.F.F.F. contains undesirable man-made fluorinated chemicals that can harm humans as well as the environment, the industry has been scrambling to find a path forward with a safer product.

“Our goal was to replace these foam concentrates with a safe, fluorine-free alternative that maintains the same firefighting effectiveness with no or little change to the supply volume and the existing delivery systems,” Perez said. “There were some who encouraged reducing the standards in order to get a product on the market more quickly, but we were not willing to consider such a tradeoff. The safety of people and property is our number one priority. With the commitment and experience of our dedicated team, we acted promptly with nimbleness to produce Hiller Haven Green, which is the best of both worlds – safe and effective.”

The availability of Hiller Haven Green will have a significant impact across many end markets. A.F.F.F. foam has been widely used by the U.S. government, military and commercial industries after its development by the U.S. Navy in the mid-1960s for mission-critical extinguishment of petroleum-based fires. Until now, there was no alternative.

“Our team recommends that those using A.F.F.F. replace their systems as soon as possible,” Perez said. “A.F.F.F. is not safe, and exposure can lead to adverse human health effects as well as negative environmental impact. Now that there is an alternative, time is of the essence.”

For more information about Hiller Haven, please send an email to hillerhavengreen@hillercompanies.com.

About The Hiller Companies

Hiller offers fire protection and life safety products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Hiller extends its reach globally as well as in domestic markets with offices across the United States. For more than 100 years, we have been laser-focused on one goal – making the world a safer place. We are proud to be at the forefront of technology and innovation by creating adaptable safety solutions. As we continue to grow and expand our life safety footprint, we pledge to keep our customers top of mind while striving to design, install and service the most compliant, reliable systems available. For more information about Hiller, please visit hillerfire.com.

Media Contact, Wyatt Link marketing@hillercompanies.com

Unlocking the Future of Energy Storage Systems with Hiller

Hiller is taking PowerGen International by storm!

Learn More About BESS from Hiller Experts, Including Paul Hayes

Be sure to join Paul Hayes as he presents in two sessions on the critical topic of BESS.

Safety first: How BESS projects are answering the call through policy and technology
January 24, 2024 | 10:00 – 11:00 am | Room 213
It is critical that battery storage projects adhere to the highest safety standards in order to gain mainstream acceptance. This panel will explain how new rules are giving clearer signals for developers. Speakers will also explore some of the technical innovations that are addressing fire and explosion concerns and keeping these sites free of catastrophic accidents.

BESS industry failures, code updates and large-scale testing
January 24, 2024 | 12:15 – 2:45 pm | Exhibit Hall, Booth# 2746

This session includes a discussion of battery energy storage systems (BESS), code review, and what it means for the future. Real-world failures are different from what is seen in the lab and other conditions must be taken into account. This session will ensure the correct information is shared.

Energy storage system safety best practices – Ask the experts!

Session and New Energy Mix + Microgrids Knowledge Hub Sponsored by: Hiller

January 24, 2024 | 3:45 – 4:45 pm | Booth# 821
Ensuring safety is a priority! How do we do that? What does it entail? What codes do we use that support battery energy storage systems (BESS)? The experts answer questions like these, capturing what and how BESS works and the various applications across the BESS world.

For more ESS and NFPA 855 Content click here.

The Hiller Companies offers fire protection and life safety solutions that have been preserving lives and property worldwide for over 100 years. As a full-service provider with over 30 locations across the United States, Hiller is laser-focused on one goal – making the world a safer place. With a commitment to safety and quality, Hiller is a trusted partner for businesses and organizations of all sizes. Visit HillerFire.com to learn how we can help protect your assets and ensure
compliance with industry standards.

THE HILLER COMPANIES, LLC ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF FIRE DEFENSE SERVICES, INC.

Acquisition adds experience and capabilities to Hiller and expands its presence in Virginia to the greater Richmond metro area.

Mobile, Alabama – August 2, 2023 – The Hiller Companies, a leading provider of fire and life safety services, today announced it has acquired Chester, VA-based Fire Defense Services, Inc.

The leaders and employees at Fire Defense Services bring over 30 years of experience and deep capabilities in fire suppression, fire alarm, and monitoring systems and services. Hiller is excited to gain the team’s experience, knowledge, and deep expertise to drive the expansion of Hiller Virginia’s footprint into the Richmond metropolitan area.

“I am thrilled to add Todd Joyner, Joe Vaughan, and their talented employees to the Hiller family,” Belinda Arthur, General Manager of Hiller Virginia’s commercial division, said. “Their focus on providing a superior experience to customers and enhanced opportunities for employees is fully aligned with our culture and focus. This relationship will allow us to better service customers in the Richmond area.”

Hiller CEO Santiago Perez sees the Fire Defense Services acquisition as enhancing our ability to bring world class services to more customers in Virginia. “This acquisition continues our strategy of thoughtful growth with a focus on expanding our reach and capabilities for the benefit of our customers and employees,” he said. “I am looking forward to working with Todd, Joe, Belinda and the entire team to build on their success, and I am confident they will be an important part of our growth going forward.”

Fire Defense Services owners Todd Joyner and Joe Vaughan look forward to partnering with the Hiller team to leverage Hiller’s resources and expertise to positively impact customers and employees. “We are excited to join forces with Hiller. What stood out to us was the people and leadership at Hiller and our shared focus on the customer and employees,” they said. “We know our team will grow under Hiller’s leadership, and the relationship will bring enhanced opportunities to our customers and employees.” 

Going forward, Fire Defense Services will be known as Hiller Richmond and will transition to the Hiller brand over the next 90 days. Day-to-day operations will remain constant under Todd Joyner and Joe Vaughan to ensure a seamless experience for customers, employees, and supplier partners.

About Hiller Fire

Hiller offers fire protection and life safety products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Hiller extends its reach globally as well as in domestic markets with offices across the United States. For more than 100 years, we have been laser-focused on one goal – making the world a safer place. We are proud to be at the forefront of technology and innovation by creating adaptable safety solutions. As we continue to grow and expand our life safety footprint, we pledge to keep our customers top of mind while striving to design, install and service the most compliant, reliable systems available. For more information about Hiller, please visit hillerfire.com.

About Fire Defense Services, Inc.

Fire Defense Services has provided life safety systems services to the greater Richmond area for over 13 years with a focus on providing the best customer service and ensuring that customers’ property and building occupants are safe. Based out of Chester, VA, they provide fire suppression, fire alarm and monitoring services in Richmond and the surrounding area. For more information about Fire Defense Services, Inc., please visit https://www.firedefense.net/

Mergers and Acquisitions Contact:                                                        

Parham Ghorban,

Vice President, Corporate Development                                                

pghorban@hillercompanies.com

Virginia General Manager

Belinda Arthur, 

General Manager, Commercial  

barthur@hillercompanies.com

THE HILLER COMPANIES, LLC ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF MID RIVERS FIRE SAFETY INC.

Two fire and life safety leaders joined forces to expand their geographical footprint and resources to benefit customers in the Inland Marine Environment and beyond.

Mobile, Alabama – April 13, 2023 – The Hiller Companies, a leading provider of fire and life safety services, today announced it has acquired Mid Rivers Fire Safety Inc. based in Troy, MO.

Mid Rivers brings over 20 years of experience providing inland marine fire protection services to St. Charles, St. Louis and surrounding areas. John Cocke, Vice President of the Marine and Gulf Coast Group of The Hiller Companies, is excited to gain the Mid Rivers Team’s experience and knowledge of inland marine fire protection and expand Hiller’s footprint northward.

“I am thrilled to have the Mid Rivers team join Hiller. They strongly enhance our Hiller Marine division with their dedication to customer service and excellence in the marine fire protection industry.” Cocke said. “This relationship allows Hiller to better serve the brown water industry by having an established location in high volume marine waterways that act as gateways to major cities in the central-eastern portion of the U.S. and in close proximity to the Mississippi River.”

Hiller CEO Santiago Perez believes the Mid Rivers acquisition will open doors for Hiller as he looks to expand the company into new verticals and regions.

“Hiller is in a position to grow quickly, and bringing Mid Rivers onto the team helps us expand northward while establishing a strong presence in inland waterways,” he said. “This is an exciting development for us. I am looking forward to working with the team to build on their success, and I am confident they will be an integral part of our growth going forward.”

Mid Rivers owners Kathy and Curt Favre look forward to diving in with the Hiller team to leverage Hiller’s resources and expertise to positively impact the business they have grown over the last 20 years.

“We are excited to be uniting with The Hiller Companies. The name Hiller has a reputation of excellence in the fire protection industry and this partnership will ensure that our customers have access to the most robust and cutting-edge solutions on the market, regardless of location,” they said. “We know our team will grow under Hiller’s leadership, and we can’t wait to be a part of that.”  

Going forward, Mid Rivers will become Hiller St. Louis and will transition to the Hiller brand. Day-to-day operations will remain constant under Kathy Favre and Curt Favre to ensure a seamless experience for customers and supplier partners.

About The Hiller Companies

Hiller offers fire protection and life safety products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Hiller extends its reach globally as well as in domestic markets with offices across the United States. For more than 100 years, we have been laser-focused on one goal – making the world a safer place. We are proud to be at the forefront of technology and innovation by creating adaptable safety solutions. As we continue to grow and expand our life safety footprint, we pledge to keep our customers top of mind while striving to design, install and service the most compliant, reliable systems available. For more information about Hiller, please visit hillerfire.com.

About Mid Rivers Fire Safety

Mid Rivers Fire Safety is known as a marine inland fire protection services company and has serviced riverfront vessels for more than 20 years. They service the northern regions of the brown water industry and pride themselves on their mid-stream fire protection services. In addition, they offer fire extinguisher sales/service, restaurant hood systems, exit lighting and paint booths. For more information about Mid Rivers, please visit https://midriversfiresafety.com.

Mergers and Acquisitions Contact:

Parham Ghorban

Vice President, Corporate Development

pghorban@hillercompanies.com

Media Contact:

Wyatt Link

Hiller Marketing

wlink@hillercompanies.com

THE HILLER COMPANIES, LLC ACQUIRES NEVADA FIRE PROTECTION SERVICE BUSINESS

Nevada Fire Protection will retain its installation and retrofit business while

Hiller expands its geographical footprint for services in the Las Vegas area.

Mobile, Alabama – April 12, 2023 – The Hiller Companies, a leading provider of fire and life safety services, today announced it has acquired the service business of Nevada Fire Protection (NFP) based in Las Vegas, NV.  

The acquisition strengthens Hiller’s service capabilities, expands its presence on the west coast, and provides the ability to serve our customers in the Las Vegas area. This acquisition is 100% service-based, and capabilities include sprinklers, fire alarms and a proprietary monitoring network. Going forward, Hiller will provide inspections, testing, monitoring, repair and maintenance to customers in the Las Vegas Metro Area, while NFP will continue to operate its installation and retrofit business as they have historically done.

Established in 1919 and headquartered in Mobile, AL, Hiller is a leading national provider in the fire and life safety services industry, offering customers a full range of installation and recurring services through a network of over 30 locations across the United States. Nevada Fire Protection was founded by Don Blunt in 1996 in Reno, NV, and over the past 27 years, has earned a reputation as a leader in the fire protection industry by making an impact throughout the western region of the United States.

Hiller CEO Santiago Perez is pleased to welcome NFP’s Las Vegas service team and customers to Hiller.

“This is an exciting time for Hiller, as we expand our service offerings across the country. This acquisition allows us a greater presence in Nevada and strengthens our capabilities to deliver world-class services to an expanded customer base,” Perez said. “Nevada Fire Protection’s presence in the region will enable us to fulfill our strong commitment and track record of providing superior service to our customers.”

Now known as “Hiller Las Vegas,” the new location will be led by General Manager Keith Carter. Carter added, “I am excited to dive into the Las Vegas market and build on the foundation of NFP. This is a great opportunity for Hiller to grow our service offering and expand our reach.”

Don Blunt, Nevada Fire Protection Founder and Chief Executive Officer said, “I believe we share common culture and values with Hiller, and a commitment to providing the best experience to our customers and employees. I trust that each customer and our employees are in good hands and look forward to partnering with Hiller in the future to ensure we are providing the same world class service that our customers have come to expect.”

About The Hiller Companies

Hiller offers fire protection and life safety products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Hiller extends its reach globally as well as in domestic markets with offices across the United States. For more than 100 years, we have been laser-focused on one goal – making the world a safer place. We are proud to be on the forefront of technology and innovation by creating adaptable safety solutions. As we continue to grow and expand our life safety footprint, we pledge to keep our customers top of mind while striving to design, install and service the most compliant, reliable systems available. For more information about Hiller, please visit hillerfire.com.

About Nevada Fire Protection

Nevada Fire Protection was founded by Don Blunt in 1996 in Reno, NV. Over the past 27 years, NFP-SFP has earned a reputation as a leader in the fire protection industry by making an impact throughout the western region of the United States. Today, our corporate headquarters is in Las Vegas, and we have additional offices in California, Colorado, and Reno, Nevada. Each office is fully staffed with all departments playing an important role in every project, no matter the size. We believe the success of any project is directly related to the depth of management, scope of knowledge and the willingness to succeed.
Mergers and Acquisitions Contact:

Parham Ghorban

Vice President, Corporate Development

pghorban@hillercompanies.com

Media Contact:

Wyatt Link

wlink@hillercompanies.com

Combined company will have greater scale, geographical footprint and resources to benefit customers across Southeast and beyond

Mobile, Alabama – April 10, 2023 – The Hiller Companies, a leading provider of fire and life safety services, today announced it has merged with Unifour Fire and Safety, headquartered in Hickory, NC, to form the premier fire and life safety services provider in the United States. The combined company, which will continue to be known as The Hiller Companies, will have greater scale, service capabilities and geographical reach that will benefit customers of both companies. Unifour Fire and Safety will continue to operate under its existing brand. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Established in 1919 and headquartered in Mobile, AL, Hiller is a leading national provider in the fire and safety services industry, offering customers a full range of installation and recurring services through a network of 26 branches across the United States. Unifour was founded in 1984 and has made a name for itself as a leading provider in the Southeast serving areas including North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.

The combined company will continue to be led by Chief Executive Officer Santiago Perez. Unifour Fire and Safety will consolidate under The Hiller Companies and continue to be led by President Stephen Terrell, and Chief Operating Officer Ben Moore.

“This is an exciting moment for Hiller, as we significantly expand our presence in the Southeast, strengthen our capabilities to deliver world-class services to our combined customer base and provide more growth opportunities for Hiller and Unifour employees and partners,” said Santiago Perez, CEO of The Hiller Companies. “Unifour’s experienced leadership, service culture and customer-centric approach fit well with Hiller’s strong commitment and track record of providing superior service to our customers. These values are the foundations of both businesses, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead for our combined company.”

Morgan Anderson, Founder of Unifour, said, “We are excited to be joining forces with Hiller, a highly respected company in our industry. Unifour and Hiller’s values and cultures align, which made for the right partnership for Unifour. Merging with Hiller allows our company the advantage of being part of a larger team and network of like-minded fire and life safety experts while remaining focused on serving our region of the country.”

Lincoln International LLC served as exclusive financial advisor and Williams Mullen served as legal counsel to Unifour Fire and Safety in the transaction. Harris Williams served as financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal counsel to The Hiller Companies.

About The Hiller Companies

Hiller offers fire protection and life safety products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Hiller extends its reach globally as well as in domestic markets with offices across the United States. For more than 100 years, we have been laser-focused on one goal – making the world a safer place. We are proud to be on the forefront of technology and innovation by creating adaptable safety solutions. As we continue to grow and expand our life safety footprint, we pledge to keep our customers top of mind while striving to design, install and service the most compliant, reliable systems available. For more information about Hiller, please visit hillerfire.com.

About Unifour Fire & Safety

Unifour has been helping to prevent commercial fires throughout the Southeast for more than three decades with a focus on timely and reliable fire safety service when and where needed. A leader in the fire prevention industry since 1984, Unifour serves North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. For more information about Unifour, please visit unifourfire.com.

Mergers and Acquisitions Contact:
Parham Ghorban
Vice President, Corporate Development
pghorban@hillercompanies.com

Media Contact
Wyatt Link
Hiller Marketing
wlink@hillercompanies.com

Experienced, growth-oriented executive will build upon Hiller Companies’ Success

Mobile, Alabama – March 8, 2023 – The Hiller Companies, a leading provider of fire and life safety services and portfolio company of Littlejohn & Co., has named Santiago Perez Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately.

Mr. Perez is a proven executive with a thirty-year track record of success driving organic and inorganic growth in technical services businesses serving the commercial and industrial building landscape. Mr. Perez was most recently CEO of Keter Environmental Services. Previously, he held senior leadership positions at Schneider Electric, where he oversaw the U.S. services and solutions business, and Johnson Controls, where he led a number of the company’s global business units.

Brian Michaud, Managing Director of Littlejohn, said “Santiago is an outstanding leader and brings substantial experience delivering profitable growth in scaled building services platforms. We look forward to working with Santiago to build upon Hiller’s strong foundation and to support the team as they continue to develop a unique platform in the fire and life safety sector with differentiated capabilities.”

Santiago Perez, CEO of The Hiller Companies, added “I am thrilled to join Hiller and to partner with Littlejohn. Hiller’s strong reputation in the market, committed team of employees, and numerous growth avenues make the platform a very compelling opportunity.”

About The Hiller Companies

Hiller offers fire protection and life safety products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Hiller extends its reach globally as well as in domestic markets with offices across the United States. For more than 100 years, we have been laser-focused on one goal – making the world a safer place. We are proud to be on the forefront of technology and innovation by creating adaptable safety solutions. As we continue to grow and expand our life safety footprint, we pledge to keep our customers top of mind while striving to design, install and service the most compliant, reliable systems available. For more information about Hiller, please visit our website at hillerfire.com.

About Littlejohn & Co., LLC

Littlejohn & Co. is a Greenwich, Connecticut-based investment firm focused on private equity and debt investments in middle-market companies. With approximately $8 billion of regulatory assets under management, the firm seeks to build sustainable success for its portfolio companies through a disciplined approach to engineering change. For more information about Littlejohn, visit littlejohnllc.com.

Media Contact

Angela Cocke
corpcomm@hillercompanies.com
(404) 840-7138

Hiller is excited to announce a new strategic growth investment partner. With a long and well‐respected history as a fire protection and life safety leader, Hiller, along with Pon Holdings, will build a strategic partnership with Littlejohn & Co, a U.S.‐based private equity firm. Leadership anticipates a solid future, building on the growth and success of the past 100 years.

“We are looking forward to actively building a strong relationship with Littlejohn as the primary investment in the fire protection and life safety sector in their portfolio,” Hiller President and CEO Jeff Birch said. “We could not be more pleased that we will continue to operate under the trusted Hiller brand going forward and continue to be innovators and trailblazers in our industry.”

Hiller leadership across the country will remain in place, and customers and our supplier partners should see little to no change in their processes or points of contact.

“We will remain business as usual in terms of executive leadership, employees, customers and suppliers,” Birch explained. “As a team, we have worked hard to improve at what we do and how we do it. This new relationship with Littlejohn offers us the support and strength we need to continue our path forward and become the best we have ever been. We are thankful for the support of Pon over the years, and we look forward to their continuing partnership.”

Pon Holdings, Hiller’s owners for the past ten years, will continue to be a large investor in the business. Over the last ten years, Pon provided valuable tactical leadership for Hiller, which saw tremendous growth and success, quadrupling in size from 400 employees to over 1400 employees today. Birch believes the future is bright with this new strategic partnership model.

“With Littlejohn on board and a fresh perspective, we believe the sky is the limit,” Birch said. “And with Pon staying involved, we will have the wisdom of our experience together over the last decade. They have been a tremendous partner and helped us reach new heights in growth, innovation and success.”

Littlejohn has a strong tradition of building value in a portfolio of middle‐market companies.

Brian Michaud, Managing Director of Littlejohn, said, “We are thrilled to support the Hiller team as they build a unique platform in the fire and life safety sector. Hiller has differentiated capabilities, serving customers operating in complex environments with sophisticated fire protection needs, and benefits from strong secular growth drivers. We will bring to bear Littlejohn’s deep experience investing in leading facility services businesses to accelerate Hiller’s growth plan.”

Robert W. Baird & Co. served as the exclusive financial advisor to Hiller on the transaction.

###

About Hiller

Hiller offers fire protection and life safety products and services that are preserving lives and property all around the world. Headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, Hiller extends its reach globally as well as in domestic markets with offices across the United States. For more than 100 years, we have been laser focused on one goal – making the world a safer place. For more information about Hiller products and services, visit hillerfire.com.

About Littlejohn & Co., LLC

Littlejohn & Co. is a Greenwich, Connecticut‐based investment firm focused on private equity and debt investments in middle‐market companies. With approximately $7.8 billion of regulatory assets under management, the firm seeks to build sustainable success for its portfolio companies through a disciplined approach to engineering change. For more information about Littlejohn, visit littlejohnllc.com.

Media Contacts

For Hiller
Angela Cocke/Emily Mansor
corpcomm@hillercompanies.com
(404) 840-7138

For Littlejohn & Co.
Nathaniel Garnick/Grace Cartwright
Gasthalter & Co.
(212) 257-4170

New Look. Same Quality.

We are thrilled to announce the rebrand of Securiplex. Historically, the Securiplex brand has functioned as a separate product offered by Hiller. Today, we bring them under the same umbrella as we announce the renaming of the Securiplex brand to “Hiller Water Mist. A Securiplex Technology.”

The new brand represents the strength of Hiller and the history of Securiplex technology and water mist innovation while showcasing the same high-quality, innovative products Securiplex is known for.

As an internationally recognized, technology-driven company, Securiplex has been known for its role in developing and manufacturing water fog/mist technology. Its products are integral to the safety of high-profile installations such as the New York subway system, the British/Franco Euro tunnel, the navies of the USA, Canada, United Kingdom and more.

As the original water mist innovators, Securiplex helped to establish North American industrial water fog/mist technology by working with FM to develop the appropriate test protocols and in 1995, received the first FM approval ever issued for a water fog/mist fire protection system.

Under the Hiller Water Mist name, we look forward to continuing the tradition of forward-thinking innovation that has been established over the last few decades.