Timeline

BHC is the nation’s premier and most comprehensive supplier of equipment, service, and technology in all trade verticals making up the commercial fire and life safety markets.

1941

Stephen Brooks and Charles Neal founded Brooks Equipment Corporation in San Francisco.

Brooks is the largest wholesaler of fire extinguishers and kitchen system service parts in the US. They are headquartered in Charlotte, NC, and have 15 distribution centers across the US. The first Brooks catalog was printed in the early 1960s and is now known as the gold standard in parts supply.

1998

Behrman Capital acquired Brooks Equipment Company.

2000

Formed the umbrella company BHC (BECO Holding Company) and the back office structure of ISS (Integrated Support Services) to set the company up to grow.  ISS represented Distribution, Engineering, Finance HR, IT, Merchandising, and Purchasing.

2001

Launched Logistics Supply to provide fire and safety products to independent industrial distributors.  Logistics shares distribution centers in 6 cities and sells to more than 40 market channels in the industrial and safety sectors.

2007

Acquired Heiser Logistics located in Canandaigua, NY. They share distribution centers in 12 cities and are known for being the only wholesale distributor with their own private label kitchen system called ProTex II.

2010

Freeman Spogli acquires BHC.

2010

Expanded ISS for growing functional needs in both Business Development and Strategic Sourcing.

2014

Behrman Capital acquires BHC for the second time.

2016

Brooks developed a Fire Alarm division.

2017

Acquired L&J Fire Equipment out of Ocala, FL.

2017

Acquired Commercial Fire launching BHC into the National Account space. Commercial Fire is located in Jacksonville, FL, and is the US’s premier National Account company. Commercial Fire work is done by a select group of Fire Equipment Distributors they refer to as Affiliates.

2018

Founded the FED Learning Center to provided needed training to the FED community.

Early 2020

Early 2020 Acquired Water Specialties Company out of New Hampshire.

Late 2021

Acquired SEC USA, formally known as Security Engineering, out of Clemmons, North Carolina.

Late 2021

HIG Capital acquires BHC.

Today

Today BHC is known as the industry leader in all things related to fire and life safety equipment.  With a commitment to service excellence and a focus on technology development, BHC is poised to continue great growth and success in the future.