Muskego-based Inpro Corp. has acquired the assets of El Cajon, California-based roller window shade manufacturer WebbShade. The company declined to reveal the acquisition price.
Inpro manufactures door and wall protection, washroom systems, expansion joint systems, privacy systems, elevator protection systems and architectural signage. It has acquired WebbShade’s WebbGlide and WebbLok roller shades, as well as the equipment used to make them, which will be integrated into its existing Muskego production space and become part of the Clickeze Privacy Systems division.
Roller window shades are expected to be a growing market, particularly as Medicare begins covering inpatient mental health treatment next year, said Evan Bane, a spokesperson for Inpro.
“We believe that this will in turn lead to the expansion and renovation of mental health facilities in the country,” Bane said. “What’s happening is that there’s an increasing emphasis within the health care sector now to make mental health part of the continuum of care. We had a series of products already that existed to support the mental health facility, but this is just one more product to add to it.”
InPro has 535 employees, 485 of whom are based in Muskego.
“The WebbLok product was attractive to us given the expansion of behavioral health facilities both domestically and overseas,” said Marc Holland, Inpro’s president. “The acquisition also allows the Webb line to leverage Inpro’s market reach and dynamic operational model.”
Inpro has hired Kevin Macoubrie, WebbShade sales manager. There were six other WebbShade employees, who will be offered positions at Inpro if they are willing to relocate to Muskego, Bane said. The owners of WebbShade, Mike and Ally Benbrook, have retired. The WebbGlide and WebbLok products will be made by Inpro’s existing workforce beginning Nov. 1.
“It is very satisfying to know Inpro will be carrying on the Webb line, which my father started 70 years ago,” said Ally Benbrook. “Inpro’s strength and market reach are well known to both health care and education facility designers. Our products are a solid fit within Inpro’s line.”
