John “Sonny” Kovatch III, vice president of KME Fire Apparatus, Nesquehoning, announced yesterday the purchase of Grumman Emergency Products Inc., Roanoke, Virginia.

The leading manufacturer of American-engineered, custom-built fire apparatus, KME will handle all future sales and manufacture of the former GEP Inc. product line that includes products such as the Firecat pumpers and Aerialcat platforms and ladders.

Grumman, which is expected to close today, employed 270 people in Roanoke.

While no new jobs will be created by the purchase, Kovatch said the action will result in saving some of the 600 local jobs in Nesquehoning.