Ranger Fire and Security and Fire Protection Ireland have announced a partnership bringing the total number of businesses in the Ranger Group to 26, with more than 550 employees now operating under the group. It matters because it adds a fifth Irish hub Ranger can immediately cross-sell suppression and training services into, rather than building that local presence from scratch.

Ranger Fire and Security is a UK and Ireland fire and security consolidation platform backed by Inflexion, bringing together local businesses to build a national one-stop provider through acquisitions and investment in technology and talent.

Fire Protection Ireland is a Virginia, Co Cavan-based fire and security business founded in 2012, providing design, installation, commissioning, service and maintenance across fire alarms, CCTV, smoke ventilation, nurse call systems and intruder alarms for public and private sector customers.

Fire Protection Ireland recently acquired two Irish businesses, Red Blaze and Red Fire, now integrated under its brand, with the existing leadership of managing director Sean Sharkey, sales director Richie MacKay and projects director Andy Redmond remaining in place.

Ranger chief executive Mark Bridges said: "Ireland is a key market for Ranger Fire and Security and the latest addition of Fire Protection Ireland provides a key hub, which will help further broaden our reach to new customers across the Republic of Ireland."

Sharkey said: "Over the last fifteen years, we've built a strong reputation for quality customer-centric services. Joining Ranger Fire and Security was therefore the logical next step for Fire Protection Ireland, enabling us to continue expanding our business."

The partnership follows earlier additions of Galway-based Henderson Fire and Safety and Cork-based Emerald Fire Technology this year, giving Ranger operating hubs spanning the west, south and now the midlands of Ireland.

Ranger said Fire Protection Ireland will serve as a hub for cross-selling additional services, including suppression and training from its other Ireland-based businesses, rather than operating as a standalone acquisition.

For the sector, building a national platform by stitching together independently branded regional operators, then cross-selling services between them, signals that scale in fire and security services increasingly comes from operational integration, not from the acquisitions themselves.

Source: International Fire & Safety Journal