Balco, Inc.
Proudly located in Wichita, Kansas, USA
Balco is a leading manufacturer of high-performance construction products in the categories of expansion joint systems, fire barriers, stair nosings, mats & grids, trench & access covers, acoustical joints & partition closures, photoluminescent egress systems, and firestopping. These products are specified by architects, engineers and contractors for commercial buildings worldwide.
Established in 1957, steady growth over the years has been maintained through a commitment to providing high quality products and customer services that include customization, turnkey design and education/certification programs. Balco has an ISO 9001-certified Quality Management System, with its own in-house UL test and research laboratory. Balco is a member of AIA, FCIA, Sphere1, SWRI, and ICRI. Balco is also a listed manufacturer on MasterSpec/SpecPoint, RIB SpecLink, and BIMobject.
Since 2015, Balco has been part of CSW Industrials, Inc. [NASDAQ: CSWI], a diversified industrial growth company with industry-leading operations in three segments: Contractor Solutions, Engineered Building Solutions, and Specialized Reliability Solutions. CSWI provides niche, value-added products with two essential commonalities: performance and reliability. The primary end markets that CSWI serves with well-known brands include: HVAC/R, plumbing, electrical, general industrial, architecturally-specified building products, energy, mining, and rail. For more information, please visit cswi.com.
Claude Balzer founded the company in downtown Wichita with the purpose of supplying architectural products to the commercial building industry. The primary product manufactured at that time was expansion joint covers. Later, entrance mats, trench covers, and stair nosing products were added to the Balco line. Balco, Inc. was officially incorporated in 1959. A new manufacturing plant was built in South Wichita, and has served as the company’s headquarters ever since. Balco plastic wall protection product line was added, and a new, dedicated plastics extrusion plant was built. Mr. Balzer retired and sold the company to the Sterling Group. Balco acquired Metalines, an Oklahoma City corporation. Metalines manufactured expansion joint covers with a niche in the California market, providing large seismic joint assemblies and robust fire barriers that accommodated California’s precise building codes. Sterling sold the company to the Capital Southwest Corporation [NASDAQ: CSWC]. Balco acquired the exterior and parking Expansion Joint Cover line of Mercedes International, LLC of Atlanta, GA, growing Balco’s reach within the waterproof expansion joint cover industry for open-air venues. Balco expanded the Wichita campus by purchasing adjacent property and buildings. Within the additional space, we innovated and launched the production of a product line called IllumiTread,™ photoluminescent safety egress markings and way-finding signage. Balco sold the assets of our wall protection product line to Tepromarc International of Evanston, IL. We retained our plastics plant to support the numerous plastic items included in our product lines. Balco acquired the Michael Rizza™ Company, which produced a premium line of extruded silicone expansion joint cover systems. In that same year, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce recognized Ronnie Leonard, CEO of Balco, as one of its Women of the Year. Balco received numerous awards for outstanding business contributions to the Kansas, Oklahoma and national economies. Our impressive growth, innovative spirit, and top notch technical services, even through the Great Recession, were demonstrated and recognized in both domestic and international markets. Capital Southwest Corporation forms CSW Industrials, a separate publicly traded company (NASDAQ:CSWI), of which six companies become affiliates, including Balco. Balco consolidated campuses, bringing all personnel and production to Wichita, Kansas, and closing the Oklahoma campus, creating one, efficient location for all services. Balco became Master Distributor for Metacaulk® firestopping solutions (by RectorSeal), the comprehensive line of advanced products for every field condition of construction joints and through-penetrations. Balco relocated offices and manufacturing to a new building in North Wichita, accommodating recent growth and expansion.
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