Pacific Scientific Co. Acquires Company : Anaheim Firm Continues Spree With $27-Million Purchase

Continuing a three-year acquisition binge, Pacific Scientific Co., the Anaheim manufacturer of precision industrial and electronic instruments, has announced the purchase of Monrovia-based HTL Industries Inc. for about $27 million in cash.

HTL Industries, an aerospace-related designing and manufacturing subsidiary of Allegheny International Inc., is Pacific Scientific’s fifth acquisition since February, 1984. At that time the company launched a campaign to diversify its product line in the face of declining profits from what had previously been its most profitable product--mechanical shock arresters used to stabilize pipes in nuclear power plants.

The company has purchased an electronics firm, a motor products manufacturer, a maker of a laser particles sizer used by chemical and pharmaceutical companies and a hydraulics firm.

Pacific Scientific’s treasurer, Peer Swan, said he does not know how management of HTL Industries will be affected by the acquisition, but he does expect some changes.

“I think this is going to be a very positive thing for this company. . . . HTL has $43 million in (annual) sales. Allegheny had $2 billion in sales. HTL didn’t even appear on the radarscope. We think that hurt the business,” Swan said. “We think we can give it the attention it really needs.”

Allegheny International, a Pittsburgh, Pa., maker of household and personal care products, said in a prepared statement that the company sold HTL Industries to focus on other operations such as its Sunbeam line of electrical appliances and recreational gear.

HTL Industries, headquartered in Monrovia and with facilities in Santa Ana, Duarte and Santa Barbara, primarily manufactures fire-detection and suppression equipment for missiles and space vehicles, Swan said.