A Milestone Anniversary
September 30, 2025, marks 20 years since Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Co. joined APi Group Inc., a nationwide network of fire protection and specialty construction companies. At the time, Davis-Ulmer operated four branches in Western New York and had already earned a reputation for industry leadership, having expanded in 1996 to include top-tier fire suppression and alarm brands and its own Special Hazard Alarm and Detection division.
A Legacy of Expertise
That milestone is built on over a century of expertise. Founded in Buffalo in 1923 by Herman Ulmer and Joseph Davis, Davis-Ulmer Sprinkler Co. grew from a local sprinkler provider into a trusted leader in life safety. Under the leadership of the Ulmer family, the company steadily broadened its capabilities, diversifying into fire protection, suppression, and alarm solutions. (View a list of all current services.)
A Mission That Endures
Guided by its mission—to be the leading single-source fire protection company in the Northeast by providing quality products and services at fair and equitable rates—Davis-Ulmer has maintained a reputation for excellence and integrity for more than 100 years.
A Transformative Partnership
Building on its strong foundation and reputation for excellence, Davis-Ulmer’s partnership with APi marked the start of a transformative era.
Growth Through Collaboration
Joining APi opened new doors—connecting Davis-Ulmer to a powerful network of like-minded companies, resources, and expertise. Over the past two decades, this collaboration has transformed Davis-Ulmer into the DU Family of Companies with more than 18 valued local brands and 33 branch locations across the East Coast and Midwest, offering comprehensive fire protection, alarm, suppression, and security solutions to customers of all sizes. The DU Family of Companies shares decades of expertise, a commitment to safety, and a shared purpose: protecting what people value most.
Leadership-Driven Culture
A cornerstone of this growth is APi Group’s leadership-driven culture. Guided by its central premise—success happens only when our branches and field leaders are successful—APi invests deeply in leadership development at every level. This philosophy has created an entrepreneurial environment where innovation thrives, teams collaborate across brands, and customer service reaches new heights.
Voices of Leadership
Former Davis-Ulmer President Steve Ulmer, now Senior Vice President of Safety Service at APi Group Inc., reflects:
“One of the greatest impacts APi has had on Davis-Ulmer is in leadership. The knowledge and training around leading teams and leading yourself has been invaluable. APi’s commitment to building great leaders has paralleled our success as a company.”
As we celebrate this 20-year milestone, we’re proud of the journey that brought us here: from a four-branch sprinkler company in Western New York to a trusted life safety leader with a national presence. (View all our current locations.)
Ulmer adds:
“I couldn’t be more proud of how Davis-Ulmer has evolved, and it’s all thanks to our team members. We started with four branches in New York and have grown into a leading fire protection service provider across the East Coast and Midwest. And yet, the camaraderie and spirit still feel like a family-owned business. My father and grandfather could never have imagined what this would become—and we’re not done yet. The best is still to come.”
Looking Ahead
Here’s to the next chapter of protecting lives and property, together.