Reps Site

History/Facilities

Claude Balzer founded the company in 1958 in downtown Wichita, primary products were expansion joints covers but mat frames, trench covers, and stair nosing products were soon added.

New manufacturing plant was built in 1978, and continues to be home to Balco. The plastics product line was added and a new plastic plant was built in 1983.

Mr. Balzer retired in 1985 and sold the company to Sterling Group. Sterling Group sold to Capital Southwest in 1989. Balco is a portfolio company of Capital Southwest a publicly-owned business development company with total assets exceeding $600 million. They provide capital to exceptional businesses with significant growth potential. As a public company, they have the flexibility to hold investments indefinitely, which has provided the management teams of our holdings a stable ownership platform founded in 1961. www.capitalsouthwest.com

Balco purchased Metalines, an Oklahoma corporation, in 1992. Metalines had been a friendly competitor of Balco. Metalines manufactured expansion joint covers, brick vents, MetaCaulk and MetaFoam. MetaCaulk and MetaFoam were sold to Retorseal. Consolidated product line in 1994.

In 1996 all accounting, engineering, sales and marketing functions were consolidated into the 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 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 adjacent property and buildings located next to our Wichita Plant and launched production of their new Photoluminescent Safety Egress path marking product line.

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

Balco introduced, in 2007, MetaFlex® 5000 Fire Barrier - MetaMat™ & MetaBlock™, a revolutionary New intumescent fire barrier design. This 2 hour, 3 hour and 4 hour rated fire barrier has been engineered to be used in expansion joint cover systems for both floor and walls. This 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.

Products/Services

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 Nosing 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.
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.

Industries Served

Balco is a leading manufacturer of architectural building products for the commercial construction industry with worldwide distribution.

Jim Armour, President & CEO

Balco Inc. announced the appointment of James Armour as President and Chief Executive Officer effective March 1, 2004. Armour brings to Balco over 20 years of executive management experience in the architectural building materials industry including executive positions at two Fortune 500 and two privately held firms.