Kimberly-Clark Professional to acquire Balder

The company was created out of the Josef Stefan Institute, Slovenia's leading scientific research institute, the strong links it has with this organisation will be preserved post-acquisition.

Balder is to be integrated into Kimberly-Clark Professional, but the close relationship Balder enjoys with its current customers will continue.

Gil Madrid, VP Global Safe Workplaces at Kimberly-Clark Professional, says: "This is a highly significant decision to sign this agreement and we welcome Balder's workforce to the Kimberly-Clark Professional family. Balder offers unique and highly differentiated products based on proprietary technology that set the standard throughout industry. They will complement our existing range of Jackson Safety products for the welding industry, enabling us to deliver on our customer promise to change the welding experience for the better by offering superior eye and face protection."

Miha Pesek, Sales and Marketing Director of Balder, adds: "It is great news that Balder is to become part of Kimberly-Clark Professional. Joining forces with such a major player in the welding safety industry means it is now possible to reach a far greater number of customers and potential customers than was previously possible. We are proud of our position as a technology leader in the welding safety market, which is underpinned by our close ties with the Josef Stefan Institute. We are delighted that being part of Kimberly-Clark Professional will enable us to expand our footprint quickly and effectively."

Welding helmets

Balder's flagship offering is the BH3 concept. This comprises BH3 welding helmets that provide exceptional standards of comfort and protection, combined with state-of-the art auto-darkening filters. These offer a range of benefits, including improved visibility in the open state and better colour recognition. They are claimed to be the world's first auto-darkening filters to be rated 1/1/1/1 and the world's first to be rated Class 1 for angular dependence. Creating this TH3 class certified welding package was achieved by combining the BH3 Air helmets with its strategic partner Clean-air's powered air purifying respirator.

Gil Madrid comments: "Joining forces in the future offers us an immediate 'technology leap' into the best-in-class in the welding safety category, giving us greater strength in R&D and enabling us to create a product pipeline for distinctive growth globally. The global welding market is worth an estimated $1billion a year. Balder will play a critical part in reinforcing our position of strength within this category. It will also help us to drive forward our Exceptional Workplaces strategy, which is now at the heart of our company-wide corporate vision. We are delighted that Balder will be part of this vision now and in the future."

More information on Kimberly-Clark Professional can be found on its website: www.kcprofessional.com.