Fresh impetus for Winoa


On 30 January 2014, a consortium headed by KKR Asset Management (KAM), associated with Davidson Kempner and Bennett, acquired Winoa from its previous owner, LBO France.

This acquisition has brought in new capital and enabled us to make a major reduction in our debt. We can look forward to speeding up our growth and developing new areas of expertise.

On the same day, it was with pride and enthusiasm that I took over as the new CEO of Winoa, the world’s leading producer of steel abrasives.

We are entering a new phase of our history, which I hope will be built even more on confidence and solid, long term partnerships. All our teams throughout the world are fully mobilised to make sure you can:
 
  • Work serenely and confidently with people who know you, thanks to our commercial teams operating in over 100 countries, under the banner of our global W Abrasives brand.
     
  • Improve the performance of your blasting operations and thus reduce your overall costs thanks to our training courses, our 5 test centres and their 26 technical experts throughout the world, as well as our Premium products.
     
  • Be certain that deliveries will arrive on time, everywhere in the world, thanks to our 14 production sites.
     
  • Work with a partner who shares your concerns. Quality, safety, the environment, innovation: these clear, transparent and uncompromising commitments are the result of our firm intention to be a responsible brand that is conscious of its role and duties.
     
  • Use W Abrasives products that offer the best value for money. The products and services of the W Abrasives brand meet extremely high quality criteria and are certified by recognised international organisations: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 180001, ISO 50001. This means you can count on consistent performance at all times, anywhere in the world.
     
  • Keep one step ahead in the field of abrasives, thanks to our investments in R&D and our new high value-added products, services and technologies. Phenics, for on-site treatment of large structures, is a fine example of our innovation that is enjoying promising development.
     
For our employees,  Winoa must be an employer of choice that offers attractive opportunities for personal fulfilment and career development. I am extremely fortunate to have such a solid, committed, creative team to work with.

With the support of our new investors and in collaboration with all our partners, we intend to consolidate and develop our positions and the know-how we have gained in order to move forward and reassert Winoa’s global leadership at the service of its customers.

Together, we will go even further!

Pierre Escolier
CEO