Colfax Corporation recently acquired Charter International, owner of ESAB Welding and Cutting Products.
Located in Ireland, Charter International was the parent company of ESAB, a global leader in the welding products industry, and Howden, a manufacturer of heavy-duty air and gas handling equipment.
“We are very excited about this acquisition,” said Andrew Masterman, president and CEO of ESAB North America. “Colfax Corporation is a leading manufacturing company with a proven operating system – the Colfax Business System – and is solidly focused on customer needs and the development of strong brands. This is a perfect fit for ESAB, as we are a world-class leader in the welding industry – a position we have attained by building strong partnerships with our customers and by creating a brand that is trusted worldwide.”
ESAB employs more than 8,500 people worldwide and is one of the top manufacturers in the welding industry, which is worth approximately $10 billion per year. ESAB has sales and support locations in 80 countries, and 26 manufacturing facilities across four continents. ESAB’s North American headquarters is located in Florence, S.C.
“This acquisition will not impact our customers or distributors,” said Mark Elender, senior vice president of sales and marketing for ESAB North America. “We will continue to provide our customers and distributors with the best products and support services, and we are confident that this transition will be seamless and beneficial to all.”
Based in Fulton, Md., Colfax Corporation owns 10 brands in the pumping and fluid-handling market. For more information, visit www.esabna.com.