Specialty Mfg. merges with transit supplier

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Specialty Manufacturing Inc. and Pretoria Transit Interiors completed a transaction that combines the two bus component suppliers.

Pretoria’s chief executives and founders, Herman and Sonette Myburgh, will continue as managers of the business. Specialty’s Gray Ellison will serve as the combined company president.

“By leveraging the volume and best practices of each company, we expect to be able to bolster each company’s already outstanding service and support,” Ellison said.

Specialty, based in Pineville, N.C., supplies safety components, lighting systems and accessories to the school bus and transit bus markets. Murfreesboro-based Pretoria provides such products as interior passenger and strip lighting, overhead parcel racks and HVAC ducting for transit buses.

Last summer, Specialty entered a partnership with Century Park Capital Partners, a private equity firm in Los Angeles.