MSA Safety, Inc. (NYSE: MSA) watched its shares, on word the Los Angeles City Fire Department has selected MSA Safety's respiratory protective equipment in a $15-million contract award. This represents the first of what the company expects to be a two-phase order. MSA Safety anticipates receiving a second contract from LA City in the third quarter totaling approximately $9 million.
With this contract, MSA continues to strengthen its breathing apparatus market presence in the Southern California region. In July of last year, MSA Safety announced a similar-size breathing apparatus contact with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The decision to upgrade Los Angeles City's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) technology was made after a comprehensive evaluation process. Factors that influenced the department's selection of the G1 SCBA were its advanced technology and connectivity features, as well as the ability to upgrade the SCBA with new technologies as they become available.
Each new SCBA will feature an integrated thermal imaging camera (iTIC), which places thermal imaging capabilities into the hands of individual firefighters (as opposed to sharing a handheld device). The iTIC, which is part of the SCBA control module that houses other various electronics, is one of many advanced features associated with the G1 breathing apparatus.
With more than 15 patents, the G1 SCBA is the centerpiece of the MSA Connected Firefighter platform – a suite of advanced safety technologies that work in concert to significantly improve firefighter monitoring, accountability and communication.
MSA shares started out Tuesday down eight cents to $130.42.
