MSA said Wednesday its $280 million acquisition of a California flame and gas detection equipment maker would boost profits next year and wouldn't require laying off workers or idling production facilities.

The O'Hara safety equipment company said it would use $230 million in debt and $50 million in cash to acquire General Monitors of Lake Forest, Calif.

General Monitors has annual revenue of $80 million and employs 225. It had profits of more than $25 million last year before taxes, interest and depreciation, MSA president and CEO William M. Lambert told analysts during a conference call.

Mr. Lambert said he expected that the acquisition would boost MSA's 2011 earnings by 10 cents to 15 cents per share. There is little overlap between the two companies' product lines and markets, so there is no need to eliminate plants or workers, he said.

"At this point, we have no plans to consolidate any production or other facilities," Mr. Lambert said. "It is a great fit from nearly every perspective."

The announcement was made before the market opened. It failed to excite investors. MSA shares finished Wednesday at $23.40, down 1 cent. The shares are off 12 percent for the year.

MSA expects to complete the acquisition early next month. Mr. Lambert estimated his company would record about $1 million in acquisition-related charges in the current quarter and an additional $4 million in the fourth quarter.

More than two-thirds of General Monitors' revenue comes from the energy industry, Mr. Lambert said. Its equipment is used in oil and gas wells and refineries as well as in industrial plants. The company was founded in 1961 by four aerospace engineers.

General Monitors has a strong presence in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern oil-producing countries where MSA does not, Mr. Lambert said.

MSA reported net income of $17.1 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, in the first six months of the year, down from earnings of $19.6 million, or 55 cents per diluted share, in the same period a year ago. Sales rose 1 percent to $449.6 million.

"Money Q&A" and "Company Town" are featured exclusively at PG+, a members-only web site of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.