Claude Balzer founded the company in 1958 in downtown Wichita. The primary products manufactured at that time were expansion joint covers, but mat frames, trench covers, and stair nosing products were soon added to the Balco line.

A new manufacturing plant was built in 1978 and continues to be Balco's main facility and home to our company headquarters.  In 1983 our plastics product line was added, and a new, dedicated plastics plant was built.

Mr. Balzer retired in 1985 and sold the company to the Sterling Group.  Sterling Group sold to Capital Southwest in 1989. Consequently, Balco is now a portfolio company of Capital Southwest, which is a publicly owned business development company with total assets exceeding $600 million.  Capital Southwest (www.capitalsouthwest.com) provides capital to exceptional businesses with significant growth potential.  As a public company, it has the flexibility to hold investments indefinitely. This capability has provided the management teams of its holdings a stable ownership platform since 1961.  

Balco purchased Metalines, an Oklahoma corporation, in 1992. Metalines had been a friendly Balco competitor.  Metalines manufactured expansion joint covers, brick vents -- plus brand name products MetaCaulk and MetaFoam. To maintain the focus of our product lines, Balco sold the MetaCaulk and MetaFoam brands in 1994 to the Retorseal company.

In 1996 all accounting, engineering, sales, and marketing functions were consolidated into our Wichita facilities, leaving the Oklahoma site as a manufacturing plant only.

In 2004 Balco announced the acquisition of the Exterior Expansion Joint Cover product line and all related product and production assets of Mercedes International LLC of Atlanta, GA.  Mercedes was a leading provider of installed waterproofing systems in the United States.

In 2005 Balco purchased the property and buildings located adjacent to our Wichita plant and launched production of a new Photoluminescent Safety Egress Sign and Strips pathway marking product line.

In April 2007 Balco sold the assets of its wall protection product line to Tepromark International of Evanston, IL.

Also in 2007, Balco introduced the MetaFlex® 5000 Fire Barriers - MetaMat™ and MetaBlock™, revolutionary new intumescent fire barrier designs.  These 2-hour, 3-hour, and 4-hour rated fire barriers have been engineered to be used in expansion joint cover systems for both floors and walls.  The unique and proprietary thin intumescent material allows for easy installation into small joints as well as large joints.  Splices and transition requirements are easily accomplished on site, no caulk required, reducing installation time.

• Expansion Joint Covers and EJC Fire Barriers – Allow for building function (expansion/movement) while protecting building occupants during normal use and in emergencies.
• Exterior Expansion Joint Systems and Fire Barriers – Designed for parking decks and open-air structures.
• Stair Tread Nosings and Entrance Mats & Grids – Reduces slips and falls on stairways and at building entrances.
• Grating – Reduces liability and enhances function around pools and fountains or in any pedestrian area that requires high appearance and drainage.
• Trench Covers – Allows access to plumbing and electrical wiring and cable. Also used for drain applications in food preparation.
• Access Covers – Allows access to plumbing and electrical wiring and cable and for drain applications in food preparation. Access covers are usually square and are available with optional steel or aluminum liners.
• Photoluminescent Safety Egress Systems – Allows commercial building occupants escape egress when electrical emergency power systems fail. Also, allows residential building occupants safe movement within a building during extended power outages.

Balco is a leading manufacturer of pre-engineered and custom architectural building components offering worldwide service and distribution for the commercial construction industry.

Balco Inc. announced the appointment of James Armour as President and Chief Executive Officer on March 1, 2004. Jim brings to Balco over 20 years of executive management experience in the architectural building materials industry. Prior to joining Balco, Jim served as Vice President of Mannington Mills Commercial Flooring Division. He has managed two major business units with Armstrong World Industries and he began his career in sales, marketing and product development with the world’s leading manufacturer of glass fiber building products, Owens Corning.

Jim Serves as Executive Vice president of the Photoluminescent Safety Association and is a member of the Board of Directors. Balco Inc. is a founding member of the Photoluminescent Safety Association.