Winoa
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Steel abrasives, surface treatment |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Wendel subsidiary and Wheelabrator |
| Headquarters | Le Cheylas , France |
Area served | Worldwide (including France, Spain, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Slovenia, Brazil, Thailand, Russia) |
| Products | Steel shot and grit, stainless steel abrasives and cut-wire, steel grit for stone cutting |
Number of employees | 180 (2018) |
Winoa is a French enterprise specializing in the production and distribution of steel abrasives, focusing on the surface treatment and modification of metals. The company produces steel shot and grit, stainless steel abrasives and cut-wire, advanced technological products and services, as well as steel grit utilized in stone cutting. Its main office is located in Le Cheylas, France.
History
Established in 1961 as a collaborative venture between a subsidiary of the French conglomerate Wendel and the American company Wheelabrator, the organization rebranded to WINOA on its 50th anniversary in 2011.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Winoa grew by acquiring businesses across multiple countries including the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, the United States, the Czech Republic, Spain, Austria, Slovenia, South Africa, Brazil, and various Asian markets such as China, Korea, Thailand, and Japan.
In 2005, LBO France took ownership of Winoa. The economic downturn in 2009 affected its primary sectors—automotive, steel manufacturing, and construction—which led to its acquisition by investment company KKR in 2014. Post-restructuring, Winoa redirected its expansion efforts toward markets in Russia, India, and Southeast Asia.
On March 21, 2017, after undergoing three years of financial restructuring, KPS Capital Partners LP acquired a majority stake and announced intentions to grow further within China and India.
On February 23, 2021, Blackstone joined the group of investors by contributing additional capital; Blackstone Credit had been supporting the company since 2017.
Sites
The corporate headquarters remain in Le Cheylas (Isère), where the company was originally founded. In addition to its French manufacturing site and research facilities, Winoa operates nine production plants located in Spain, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Slovenia, Brazil, Thailand, and Russia. By 2018, the workforce at Le Cheylas comprised 180 employees.