Star Safety Technologies by Grote Proudly Designed, Manufactured, and Assembled in the USA!

Monday, April 17, 2023
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Grote Industries Acquires Star Headlight & Lantern Co, Inc.

Grote Industries Acquires Star Headlight & Lantern Co, Inc.

Acquisition will combine two multi-generational family businesses that focus on safety and lighting systems

Avon, N.Y. (April 17, 2023) - Grote Industries is excited to announce it has acquired Star Headlight & Lantern Co, Inc.. The acquisition will become part of the newly created Star Safety Technologies by Grote, a holding company wholly owned by Grote Industries, Inc.

Founded in 1889, Star has a long history of providing quality lighting products to a variety of industries, including the rail, amber light, and emergency lighting markets. Under this new ownership, Star Safety Technologies will continue to support these markets while benefitting from the combined resources and expertise of the two companies to innovate and grow.

“As a long-standing supplier partner to Grote for some of its key warning and hazard products, Star caught our attention with its great quality, innovation, and approach to serving their markets,” says Mike Grote, who will serve as General Manager for the holding company. “We are excited about building upon the rich legacy Star has developed over its 134-year multi-generational history within the Jacobs family.”

Dominic Grote, President and CEO of Grote Industries, welcomes the benefits the combination of the two companies will bring to their respective markets. “When looking for great companies that can help us serve our customers and markets better, the opportunity with Star was a perfect fit. Both our companies have been built not only on strong family leadership and commitment to their customers but also on great people and team members that work together in an environment of trust, integrity, responsibility, and respect. This addition to the Grote family of businesses demonstrates our commitment to embracing opportunities that will help us get closer to our customers and grow and scale our capability to innovate and bring safer, smarter products to the markets we serve.”

Christopher D. Jacobs, Owner, and CEO of Star Headlight & Lantern Co, Inc.,, is excited about what the future holds for the company’s team in Avon, NY, its customers, and the surrounding community. “As a fifth-generation family business founded in 1889, we are committed to doing what is right for our team, our community, and our customers. After much consideration and careful evaluation of what is best for Star, we are confident that under the Grote family care and leadership, the Jacobs family legacy of bringing innovative, high-quality products to its customers will continue and prosper.”

PHOTO OF Photo caption (left to right): Josh Wilbur, Director of Human Resources (Grote); Brian Blanton, CFO (Grote); Mike Grote, General Manager (Star Safety Technologies by Grote); John Green, Vice President and COO (Star Safety Technologies); Christopher D. Jacobs, Owner and CEO (Star Safety Technologies); Dominic Grote, President (Grote)

 

 (left to right): Josh Wilbur, Director of Human Resources (Grote); Brian Blanton, CFO (Grote); Mike Grote, General Manager (Star Safety Technologies by Grote); John Green, Vice President and COO (Star Headlight & Lantern Co.); Christopher D. Jacobs, Owner and CEO (Star Headlight & Lantern Co.); Dominic Grote, President (Grote)

About Grote Industries
Grote Industries is a global leader in the development, manufacture and supply of innovative visibility and safety systems for the on-highway, off-highway and trailer body builder markets. Grote products include a full range of vehicle lighting, electrical and reflective systems, and the accessories necessary to support their long-life performance. For more than 120 years, Grote, a family-owned company, has provided state-of-the-art solutions for OEM and aftermarket customers across the globe. Grote’s headquarters is located in Madison, Indiana, and serves international customers with locations in Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia and employs over 1,600 people globally. Additional information is available at grote.com.

About Star Headlight & Lantern Company
Star Headlight and Lantern Co., Inc. was founded in 1889 by five founding owners. Four months later, George Washington Jacobs bought the sole controlling interest in the company. Since then, the company has maintained production in Rochester, New York, and its vicinity, with the current headquarters and manufacturing center in Avon, New York. The Jacobs family has guided the company through five generations of leadership and has since become the leader in the rail, amber light, and emergency lighting markets.

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Monday, May 20, 2019
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The Glen and STAR debut new on-track caution light system for 2019 season

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – Watkins Glen International announced today that it has partnered with Star Safety Technologies to improve its trackside caution light system and enhance safety at the historic road course.

Photo of STAR DLQS Quick Stick Series LED systems installed at the Glen

The STAR DLQS Quick Stick Series LED systems have already made their debut at The Glen for a number of track rental days, and will be in place for each of the track’s major spectator race weekends, including the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen (June 27-30) and Go Bowling at The Glen (August 2-4) events.

“We have enjoyed a stellar partnership with Star Safety Technologies for a number of years, and are very pleased with the outcome of this modernization project to better serve our teams and drivers,” said Watkins Glen International President Michael Printup. “We are always looking for ways to make our facility safer, and this state-of-the-art system adds another layer to that initiative.”

The Glen also uses Star Safety Technologies products on each of its pace cars and security vehicles throughout the season. The New York-based company was founded in 1889 and has maintained production in Rochester, with its current headquarters and manufacturing center in Avon, N.Y. STAR offers LED beacons, auxiliary LED warning lights, as well as light bars, lanterns, switch controllers, sirens, back-up alarms, mounting brackets, and more.

“We at Star Safety Technologies have enjoyed a great partnership with The Glen, and have also over the last several years enjoyed watching our lights go around the track on various Watkins Glen International vehicles”, said Chris Jacobs, President/CEO of Star Safety Technologies “We are very excited to see the new trackside caution lights that we collaborated together on designing, working at the next race. It is nice to have a local company work with us and get our name out there. So many people come up to us and said “I saw your lights on the pace cars at The Glen!” It is nice to hear that so many people have noticed our lights. We look forward to another great season.”

Watkins Glen International is the premier road racing facility in North America, three times voted “Best NASCAR Track” by readers of the USA Today. Keep up with The Glen on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and be sure to download The Glen’s free mobile app from the App Store or Google Play.

 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014
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Made in Our Home Town

Star Safety featured on 13Wham TV


Thursday, May 22, 2014
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NEWS RELEASE - May 22, 2014

Star Safety named Official lightbar supplier for Watkins Glen International.

Learn more

Friday, May 02, 2014
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