Elmhurst-based Val-A Chicago acquired by Lighthouse for the Blind

Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis, a not-for-profit manufacturing and packaging organization, said Monday that it acquired all assets of Elmhurst-based Val-A Chicago Inc., owner and producer of the Tear Mender brand of adhesives and sealants.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Val-A Chicago, founded in 1932, produces nontoxic, all-natural adhesive and sealants for repairing clothing, synthetic fabrics, footwear, gloves, upholstery, vinyl and other items used indoors and outdoors. Tear Mender products are sold by retailers including Ace Hardware, True Value Hardware, Rural King and Duluth Trading and Wal-Mart, as well as Home Shopping Network and Amazon.com.

The deal that closed Friday and is expected to increase Lighthouse revenues and employment at its two manufacturing and shipping plants in St. Louis County by expanding operations, providing more employment for people who are blind or legally blind and increasing income to support outreach programs for visually impaired people in Missouri and southwestern Illinois, the company said in a statement.

John Thompson, president of Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis, also known as LHB Industries, said, "This acquisition gives LHB more exposure in commercial retail markets in addition to our current business in government and military sales along with sales of our Quake Kare emergency survival kits for families, individuals and businesses."

LHB will move Val-A Chicago and its Tear Mender operations to St. Louis. As with Quake Kare revenues, all revenue from Tear Mender product sales will support Lighthouse for the Blind-Saint Louis service programs.