Winoa
Winoa is a French company that produces steel abrasives. It specializes in the treatment and transformation of metallic surfaces and stone cutting.[1]
| Type | S.A. (corporation) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Production and distribution of steel abrasives for the treatment and transformation of metal surfaces. Stone cutting |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Headquarters | Le Cheylas (38) , France |
Key people | Pierre Escolier (CEO) |
| Revenue | 320 million EUR |
Number of employees | 1000 (group) |
| Website | www.winoagroup.com |
History
The company was founded in 1961 through a joint venture between a subsidiary of the French group Wendel and the US Wheelabrator corporation. The company took the name WINOA on its 50th anniversary in 2011.
In the 1980s, the group underwent development following acquisitions in the UK, Italy, Canada and the United States. This development continued into the 1990s in the Czech Republic, Spain, Austria, Slovenia, South Africa, Brazil and Asia (China, Korea, Thailand and Japan).
In 2005, Winoa was acquired by LBO France.[2]
In 2014, the investment firm KKR acquired the company which had suffered from the 2009 economic crisis, in which its primary markets (the automotive, steel and construction industries) had slowed significantly. The group, subsequently restructured, set its focus on three regions: Russia, India, and Southeast Asia.[3]
On March 21, 2017, after three years of debt restructuring, KPS Capital Partners LP became its majority shareholder.[4] The company announced its intention to develop in China and India.
Sites
Winoa is headquartered in Le Cheylas (Isère), where it was founded. In addition to its French plant, research and test centers, it has ten manufacturing facilities located in Spain, Canada, South Korea, the United States, Japan, Slovenia, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa and Russia. 180 people work at Le Cheylas.[5]
Notes and references
- PENTIER, Olivier (2013). "Grenoble : KKR Asset Management reprend Winoa". Le Dauphine (in French). Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- DRIF INGRID FEUERSTEIN, Anne (2013). "KKR reprend en main Winoa, champion français de la grenaille - Les Echos". www.lesechos.fr (in French). Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- DRIF INGRID FEUERSTEIN, Anne (2017). "Le français Winoa repris par le fonds KPS - Les Echos". www.lesechos.fr (in French). Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- PENTIER, Olivier (2017). "Winoa repris par le fonds d'investissement KPS". Le Dauphine (in French). Retrieved 2018-04-08.
- "Winoa repris par KPS | Présences Grenoble". www.presences-grenoble.fr (in French). 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-08.