BIDDEFORD — A North Carolina arborist and climbing gear firm has acquired Sterling Rope Company, Inc. of Biddeford.

Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, Sherrill Inc., announced the acquisition Tuesday. Sherill currently distributes Sterling Rope products through their distribution business, SHERRILLtree.com and Treestuff.com. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

A Sherrill spokesman sad that the acquisition will further vertically integrate Sherrill’s manufacturing and distribution model within the work and recreational climbing industries, while providing customers with the foremost and most innovative life safety products available.

“We have such high respect for the Sterling brand and products,” said Tripp Wyckoff, Sherrill’s chief executive officer and president. “We are 100 percent committed to grow, build and invest further in Sterling in the coming years at their Biddeford facility, and continue to innovate in this important category.”

Wyckoff said that Sherrill has no plans to change the day-to-day operation of Sterling and that the company will remain in Biddeford.

Based at 26 Morin St. in the Biddeford Industrial Park, Sterling is credited as the first company in America to develop a 100 percent polyester static rope, and also to use heat resistant fibers in the production of fire-escape ropes.

According to Carolyn Brodsky, Sterling’s chef executive officer and founder, Sterling engineers, technologists and craftsmen build on advanced research and development, customer needs analysis, innovative manufacturing and stringent testing to produce versatile and highly-rated equipment.

The Sterling Company has an estimated $7.5 million in annual revenue and employs a workforce of 70.

“If we could pick the perfect company to be acquired by, it would be Sherrill,” Brodsky said. “Our markets are very complementary and only good things can come from working more closely together on sales, product distribution, innovation and business efficiencies.”

Since she founded Sterling Rope Company, Inc. in 1992, Brodsky has seen the Sterling brand rise to become an industry leading rope manufacturer supplying climbers, climbing gyms, arborists, search and rescue personnel, fire departments, industrial safety and the military with innovative gear and products to help their customers confront challenging environments. Sterling products are made in the USA.

Sterling was the first company to offer a 48-carrier static sheath construction for greater durability and a better handling rope. It also offered the first 100 percent Polyester static rope called the HTP, and the first to offer 100 percent Technora heat and abrasion resistant ropes to the fire industry, which helped the Fire Department of New York create and implement the first escape kit.

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be reached at 282-1535 or by email at editor@journaltribune.com