MSA Safety

Last updated
MSA Safety Incorporated
Company typePublic
NYSE:  MSA
S&P 400 Component
Industry Safety equipment
Founded1914
Headquarters Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania
Key people
Steve Blanco, CEO
Products SCBA
Gas detector
Hard hat
Safety harness
Respirator
Thermal imaging camera
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$1.2 billion (2017)
Number of employees
5,000
Website www.msasafety.com
Construction worker wearing an MSA Skullgard hard hat at Douglas Dam, Tennessee (TVA), 1942 PalmercarpenterA.jpg
Construction worker wearing an MSA Skullgard hard hat at Douglas Dam, Tennessee (TVA), 1942

Mine Safety Appliances, or MSA Safety Incorporated, is an American manufacturer and supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment designed for use in a variety of hazardous conditions in industries such as construction, the military, fire service, and chemical, oil, and gas production.[1][2] MSA is based in the Pittsburgh suburb of Cranberry. [1]

Contents

Best known for its Bakelite Skullgard hard hat, the company’s product line includes gas monitoring and detection instruments, filter-type respirators, gas masks, breathing apparatus used by firefighters, thermal imaging cameras, firefighter helmets, ballistic body armor, military communications systems, a broad range of industrial head and fall protection products, and safety products for Do-It-Yourself consumers. [2] [3]

MSA was founded in 1914 [1] after development of the Edison Safety Mining Lamp by mining engineer John T. Ryan Sr. and George H. Deike with help from Thomas Edison following a terrible mine explosion in West Virginia in 1912. [4] The mining lamp was a battery-powered headlamp for miners to help prevent methane-related explosions caused by open flame lamps. Since the turn of the 21st century, MSA has seen record sales. Only a small portion of the company's current products involve mining related products. The company’s competitors include Industrial Scientific Corporation, RAE Systems and Dräger. [5]

The corporation's assets are managed through two business segments: MSA North America and MSA International. MSA has sales and manufacturing operations throughout the world and sells products to customers in more than 140 countries. While the majority of MSA's products are available only through distributors, the company does sell head, eye, ear, respiratory and body protection products to individuals through a variety of hardware and home center retail outlets.

Recent history

In May 2025, MSA Safety acquired **M&C TechGroup**, a German gas analysis and process safety company, for approximately **US$200 million**. [6] M&C TechGroup was reported to generate about **US$55 million** in annual revenue and employ roughly **220 people**. The acquisition expanded MSA’s detection portfolio—particularly gas sampling, conditioning, and process control systems—and was described as accretive to adjusted earnings for 2025. [6]

Also in 2025, MSA announced enhancements to its G1 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) platform (the "XR Edition") and introduced updates to firefighter protective gear; these product announcements were highlighted at industry conferences including FDIC International. [7]

In Q1 2025, MSA reported net sales of approximately **US$421 million**, representing modest year-over-year growth; management highlighted continued investment in product development and manufacturing capacity. [8]

Breathing Apparatus

Mine Safety Appliances Co. has been manufacturing oxygen breathing apparatus for decades. [9]

Their "Chemox" chemical rebreather, primarily designed for use in mines, has been modified for use on Mount Everest in 1952 and 1986. They are stated to be simple in construction and operation. It is essentially a canister of potassium superoxide connected to one-way flow valves to an air bag and thence to the user, as in Rebreathers whose absorbent releases oxygen hereinabove. There are no controls or operable valves of any kind. Breathing rate controls oxygen production. The main disadvantage is the 4-lbs canisters are good for only about 45-minutes of rapid climbing before another canister must be switched in. The canisters supply about 6 hours of sleeping oxygen.

Hard hats

MSA also produces protective hard hats. MSA went on to produce a lighter and more streamlined helmet known as the "Topgard" in the 1960s. MSA brand firefighting helmets were notably used by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and were seen regularly on 1970s TV shows.

MSA continues to manufacture firefighting protective helmets and in 2000 acquired competitor, Cairns Helmets.

Sites

Notes

  1. 1 2 Yahoo Finance. "Mine Safety Appliances Co. (MSA)." Retrieved Jan 10, 2013.
  2. ↑ The Wall Street Journal. "Mine Safety Appliances Co. ." Retrieved Feb 28, 2013.
  3. ↑ Bloomberg Businessweek. "Mine Safety Appliances Co (MSA:New York)." Retrieved Feb 28, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Our History". us.msasafety.com. MSA Safety. Retrieved July 4, 2022. Of all his inventions, this was the one that did the most for humanity, Edison would later say in life.
  5. ↑ Wikinvest. "Competition Archived 2014-08-08 at the Wayback Machine ." Retrieved Apr 26, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "MSA Safety Acquires M&C TechGroup". MSA Safety News. 2025-05-07. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  7. ↑ "The Best Gets Better: MSA Safety Announces Enhancements to its G1 SCBA Platform at FDIC 2025". PR Newswire. 2025-04-09. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  8. ↑ "MSA Safety Announces First Quarter 2025 Results". MSA Safety News. 2025-04-29. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  9. ↑ "Supplied Air Respirators Catalog". Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
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