Space Age Electronics buys fire-safety maker Gemcom to widen its OEM reach
What's the deal? Space Age Electronics (SAE)Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a portfolio company of Massachusetts private equity firm DelCam CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, has acquired GemcomDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a specialty manufacturer of fire suppression switches, graphic annunciators, and engineered signage. The deal was announced on September 17, 2026. Terms were not disclosed.
Who are they? Gemcom, founded nearly four decades ago and based in Burr Ridge, Illinois, supplies critical hardware to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of fire alarm and suppression systems. SAE, headquartered in Sterling, Massachusetts, makes fire and life safety equipment and maintains relationships with more than 1,000 fire systems integrators nationwide.
What's the endgame? Gemcom will operate as part of SAE, gaining access to its national distribution network, engineering resources, and expanded manufacturing. In turn, SAE picks up Gemcom's OEM design-in relationships.
Why it matters: "Gemcom's switches and annunciators are natural complements to our existing product portfolio, and its OEM design-in relationships extend our reach in ways that would take years to build organically," said Matt Grady, chief executive officer of SAE.
Why now? The deal marks another step in DelCam's strategy of buying and growing American manufacturing businesses tied to essential infrastructure. Gemcom's president, John Kelly, framed the sale as a succession move for a business held in his family for nearly four decades. "I wanted to be sure it continued in the right hands," he said.
The signal: DelCam is betting on fire and life safety as a durable niche within industrial manufacturing, citing recurring demand, regulatory drivers, and mission-critical applications. "We remain focused on partnering with founders and family-owned businesses that have built differentiated products and lasting customer relationships," said managing partner Steve Trotta.
Image credit: MTA C&D - EAST SIDE ACCESS
