What MSA Safety does

MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE: MSA) is a global manufacturer of safety equipment and connected safety solutions founded in 1914 and headquartered in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania. The company designs, manufactures, and supplies products that protect workers and facility infrastructure in hazardous environments, organized across five primary product families: Detection & Monitoring (portable gas detectors, fixed gas and flame detection, refrigerant leak detection, IIoT gateways), Gas Measurement & Process Control (combustion and process analyzers), First Responder Safety (SCBA, firefighter helmets, turnout gear, thermal imaging), Industrial Worker Safety (head, eye, face, hearing protection, industrial clothing), and Fall Protection (harnesses and engineered systems).

Underlying MSA's hardware is a connected safety software stack that includes the MSA Grid cloud platform for distributed device monitoring, the FireGrid incident command platform for firefighter telemetry, and the MSA+ subscription program for ongoing software and managed services. Proprietary elements include the XCell sensor technology for gas detection and the ALTAIR io cellular-connected detector line. Data from connected devices flows through FieldServer IIoT gateways to AWS-hosted cloud infrastructure, enabling automated reporting, fleet compliance tracking, and incident acknowledgement workflows. Recent launches include the G1 XR Edition SCBA and FireGrid Incident Command API, which together enable real-time transmission of air pressure, movement, and alarm data from breathing apparatus to incident commanders.

MSA generates revenue primarily through B2B hardware sales via an authorized distributor network across more than 40 countries, with two-thirds of revenue from the Americas and one-third international. The business segments are Fire Service Products, Detection Products (41% of business), Industrial PPE, Connected Safety Software & Services (recurring subscription), and Service/Calibration/Maintenance contracts. Government and enterprise customers include U.S. fire departments accessing products through Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), municipal fire brigades (e.g., London Fire Brigade), and unnamed oil & gas, construction, utility, and mining operators. Pricing is quote-based through distributors with no public price list.

Name

MSA Safety

Legal name

MSA Safety Incorporated

Website

https://msasafety.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

MSA Safety (NYSE: MSA) is a global manufacturer of industrial and firefighter safety equipment, including gas detection, SCBA, fall protection, and PPE, serving fire service, oil & gas, construction, utilities, mining, and general industry across 40+ countries via connected safety platforms and an authorized distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Safety Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire Alarm Systems (Inspection/Testing/Monitoring/Service) (IMAIAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Alarm Systems (Design/Install/Service/Monitoring) (BPABAHAA), Fire Alarm & Life Safety Systems Integration (BPAKAGAF), Ancillary Fire Safety Devices & Integration (Audible/Visual Alarms, Strobes, Sirens) (HSAHAFAL)

Keywords

• Industrial safety equipment
• Gas detection systems
• Firefighter protective gear
• Fall protection equipment
• Connected safety monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Detection Products: Gas detection instruments (portable and fixed), flame detection systems, and connected safety monitoring solutions. Detection products represent 41% of company business, encompassing high-value fixed and portable instrumentation as well as connected portable devices.
2. Fire Service Products: SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), firefighter helmets, thermal imaging cameras, and firefighter protective clothing including the MSA Bristol brand. Revenue affected by U.S. government funding cycles for Assistance to Firefighters Grants.
3. Industrial PPE: Fall protection equipment, head protection (safety helmets), eye protection, face protection, hearing protection, and industrial protective clothing for construction, utilities, mining, and general industry sectors.
4. Connected Safety Software & Services: Subscription-based cloud platforms (Grid, FireGrid) for connected safety monitoring, software-enabled safety management, and data analytics services. MSA+ subscription program provides ongoing access to connected safety ecosystem.
5. Service, Calibration & Maintenance: Ongoing service, calibration, and maintenance contracts for detection equipment and safety products, creating recurring revenue streams from the installed base of instruments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MSA Safety develops, manufactures, and supplies industrial safety products including portable and fixed gas detection instruments, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), firefighter helmets and protective clothing, fall protection equipment, head/eye/face/hearing protection, and thermal imaging cameras. The company also offers connected safety software platforms (MSA Grid, FireGrid) that integrate with hardware to provide real-time monitoring, telemetry, and incident command capabilities.

Product overview

MSA Safety offers a comprehensive portfolio of safety products organized as an integrated platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering includes MSA Grid and FireGrid connected safety platforms that integrate with a wide range of hardware products including ALTAIR io 4 gas detection wearables, M1 SCBA with telemetry, ULTIMA X5000 fixed gas monitors, and General Monitors S5000 detectors. Firefighter protection products include Gallet F1XF helmets, Bristol X1 protective clothing, and Evolution 6000 Plus thermal imaging cameras. Industrial worker safety encompasses V-Gard 950 safety helmets, V-FORM/V-FLEX fall protection harnesses, Advantage 410 respirators, and confined space equipment. The IIoT infrastructure includes FieldServer gateways enabling connectivity to cloud platforms. Software services include FireGrid Incident Command API for real-time incident integration, Parasense refrigerant management, and MSA+ subscription program. Recent acquisitions (M&C TechGroup for gas analysis, pending Autronica for fire/gas detection) expand the detection portfolio to approximately 45% of pro forma sales.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• V-Gard: Safety helmet and head protection brand
• ALTAIR
• GALAXY
• GALLET
• M1
• Bristol
• Ultima
• Observer
• General Monitors
• FireGrid
• Grid
• MSA+
• LATCHWAYS
• Evolution
• Bacharach
• FieldServer
• CAIRNS
• SAVOX

Products and services

• ALTAIR io 4 Gas Detection Wearable Connected portable gas detection wearable with cellular connectivity for real-time monitoring of workers in hazardous environments, integrating with the MSA Grid connected safety ecosystem.
• M1 SCBA Self-contained breathing apparatus with advanced telemetry capabilities for firefighter safety, providing real-time data transmission to incident commanders including air pressure, movement, and alarm status.
• ULTIMA X5000 Gas Monitor Fixed gas detection system for continuous monitoring of hazardous gas levels in industrial environments, part of MSA's fixed gas and flame detection portfolio.
• V-Gard 950 Safety Helmet Industrial safety helmet providing head protection for construction, utilities, and general industry workers with enhanced impact protection features.
• V-FORM Safety Harness Full-body fall protection harness designed for industrial worker safety in construction and utilities applications.
• V-FLEX Safety Harness Premium full-body harness for fall protection with enhanced comfort and fit for extended wear in industrial environments.
• Gallet F1XF Fire Helmet Advanced firefighter helmet providing head protection with integrated lighting and communication capabilities for fire service professionals.
• Evolution 6000 Plus Thermal Imaging Camera Thermal imaging camera for firefighters providing real-time heat visualization for improved situational awareness and search and rescue operations.
• Advantage 410 Half-Mask Respirator Air-purifying respirator for protection against airborne hazards in industrial and hazardous material environments.
• MSA Grid Connected safety platform enabling real-time monitoring and management of distributed safety devices across industrial sites, integrating with ALTAIR io gas detectors and other connected safety equipment.
• FireGrid Cloud-based incident command platform for firefighters, integrating M1 SCBA telemetry data including air pressure, movement, and alarms for real-time situational awareness.
• FieldServer IIoT Gateways Industrial IoT gateway solutions enabling connectivity between industrial safety devices and cloud platforms, supporting Modbus protocol integration.
• Bacharach X30/X50 Refrigerant Monitors Refrigerant leak detection monitors designed for HVAC-R applications, detecting wide range of refrigerants including newer A2L classifications at low concentrations.
• Parasense Refrigerant Tracking Platform Digital compliance software platform for tracking refrigerant usage, leakage, and regulatory compliance in HVAC-R applications.
• Bristol X1 Fire Protective Clothing Firefighter turnout gear providing head-to-toe protection with over 1,000 fit configurations, offered through MSA Bristol brand.
• General Monitors S5000 Fixed gas detection product line serving critical infrastructure, energy, and maritime sectors, part of MSA's expanded detection portfolio.
• Observer i Flame Detector Fixed flame detection device for industrial safety systems, integrated with MSA Grid for remote monitoring and notifications.
• MSA+ Subscription Subscription program offering ongoing access to MSA's connected safety ecosystem, software updates, and managed services for continuous safety optimization.
• MSA Tripod (Confined Space) Confined space rescue equipment for safe entry and extraction in industrial confined space applications.
• ALTAIR io 6 Multigas Detector Connected multi-gas detector with cellular connectivity, MSA XCell sensors, and designed for confined space monitoring applications.
• Galaxy GX2 Automated Test System Automated test and calibration system for portable gas detectors, addressing calibration verification and false alarm reduction.

Quantifiable outcome

• Detection products represent 41% of company business, showing strategic shift toward higher-value connected solutions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hydrogen SafecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 March 2026MSA Safety partnered with Hydrogen Safe to develop and expand hydrogen safety training courses. MSA contributes technical expertise, training content, and detection equipment including gas leak detectors and flame detectors for use in Hydrogen Safe's training programs, supporting the growing hydrogen economy.
• Amazon Web ServicescoreTechnology or Integration · 6 January 2026MSA Safety's FieldServer devices designed to comply with cybersecurity standards and integrate with Amazon Web Services cloud infrastructure for secure data transmission and storage of fixed gas and flame detection data.
• Shawcity LimitedcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Shawcity, a UK-based workplace gas detection specialist, became an authorized MSA Safety channel partner for the UK and Ireland effective January 2026. The partnership significantly expands Shawcity's fixed gas and flame detection portfolio, combining its technical expertise and market presence with MSA Safety's high-quality safety solutions.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Industrial Scientific: Pure-play competitor in portable and fixed gas detection with strong iNet connected safety platform overlap with MSA Grid. Industrial Scientific targets similar oil & gas, mining, and confined space customers, making it the most direct comparable in connected gas detection.
• RKI Instruments: Japanese-owned (RIKEN Keiki) competitor focused on portable gas detectors and fixed gas monitoring systems. RKI is a direct alternative to MSA's ALTAIR io and ULTIMA X5000 product lines for industrial safety customers.
• Bullard: Family-owned competitor specializing in firefighter helmets, thermal imaging cameras, and respiratory protection. Bullard directly competes with MSA's Cairns/Gallet helmet lines and Evolution thermal imaging cameras in the fire service market.
• Avon Protection: UK-based specialist in respiratory protection, SCBA, and military/tactical PPE. Avon Protection competes head-to-head with MSA's M1 SCBA platform and firefighter protective equipment, with particular overlap in military and first responder segments.
• Drägerwerk: German-headquartered direct competitor across portable and fixed gas detection, SCBA, firefighter protective equipment, and connected safety solutions. Dräger is the closest pure-play comparable to MSA's fire service and industrial safety portfolio, with overlapping products in both ALTAIR io-equivalent detectors and M1-equivalent SCBA.

Broad incumbents

• Halma plc: UK-listed conglomerate of safety, environmental, and medical technology businesses. Halma's process safety and hazard detection subsidiaries (including companies like Crowcon and Sensit Technologies) directly compete with MSA's fixed gas detection offerings while providing a diversified safety holding-company comparable.
• Ansell: Global leader in hand and arm protection PPE with a broader industrial safety portfolio. Ansell competes with MSA's industrial PPE segments (hand protection, protective clothing) and serves overlapping construction, healthcare, and industrial customers.
• Carrier Global (Fire & Security / Det-Tronics): Diversified HVAC and fire/security conglomerate that previously owned Autronica (carved out to Sentinel Capital Partners before MSA's acquisition). Carrier's Det-Tronics and Kidde brands compete with MSA's fixed gas and flame detection portfolio.
• Honeywell International (Safety & Productivity Solutions): Diversified industrial conglomerate whose Safety segment competes with MSA across gas detection (BW Technologies), fall protection, and PPE. Honeywell is substantially larger and offers MSA's product set as part of a broader portfolio across aerospace, automation, and building technologies.
• 3M (Personal Safety Division): Major diversified competitor in respiratory protection, hearing protection, and fall protection. 3M's Personal Safety Division directly overlaps MSA's SCBA, half-mask respirators, and PPE categories, though as part of a much larger conglomerate spanning consumer, healthcare, and industrial markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/msa-safety
• Xx.com/msasafety
• Facebookfacebook.com/MSAsafety

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A10 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MSA Safety