ESP, Cintas merger offers unique distribution/laundry combination

Kelly Sewell

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA — The recent merger between Eastwater Scientific Products Inc. (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) and Cintas Corp. (Cincinnati, OH) offers the cleanrooms industry a unique combination of services, claims John Westland, president of Eastwater/Cintas.

Westland explains that this is the first time a laundry company and a distribution company have fully merged. Other models in the industry are not as effective, because they maintain separate sales forces, which means two separate mentalities are being employed, Westland says.

The Cintas/Eastwater merger, on the other hand, offers a common profit center and sales force, “so you get a bona fide large company with the resources of a large company,” Westland says. Be tween the two companies, there are six facilities across the country, with expansion plans to place regional distribution centers in every major cleanroom market segment across the U.S. In addition, the combined company brings $1 billion in resources to the market.

“We see this market continuing to bundle distribution and services together to give customers a group of resources to run their business,” Westland explains.

According to Mike Gaburo, vice president of the Cintas Cleanroom Resources division, the merger was prompted by customers, who were looking for a company that could provide a higher level of service and resources. Both companies share this philosophy.

“We`re using the proven Eastwater distribution system, and, together with Cintas, we`ll duplicate this model throughout the U.S.,” Westland says. Customers will contact Cintas Cleanroom Resources [Eastwater will be dropped from the name in 12 to 18 months] for supplies, equipment and laundry services.

The Cintas/Eastwater merger combines distribution of supplies and equipment with cleanroom laundry services. The division will serve the microelectronics, medical device, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and biotech markets.