INTERNATIONAL
Kao Corporation, a global leader in innovative cleaning applications and hygiene management has completed the acquisition of Washing Systems (WSI), the leading provider of wash processing, wastewater treatment and technical services to the commercial laundry industry. Current WSI president, John Walroth, will assume the role as CEO, and the current WSI management team will continue to lead the day-to-day business.
WSI has achieved exceptional success in the North American and European commercial laundry market by delivering industry-leading wash products and processes for textile cleaning and waste water treatment chemistry, and by providing best-in-class service.
WSI’s most recent innovation, TRUpath, is the next significant innovation in environmental sustainability and is expected to revolutionize commercial wash processing by removing alkali in the wash process.
Ohio-based WSI led the industry’s move to NPE-free chemistry and hygienically clean wash processing, and was the first for-profit enterprise to receive the Platinum Award (the highest award) from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency in 2017.
Shigeru Ueyama, managing executive officer at Kao, said, “We are extremely excited to partner with WSI, the clear leader in its market. WSI’s long history of innovation, responsiveness to customer needs, and focus on environmental sustainability aligns extremely well with Kao’s philosophy. We look forward to supporting WSI’s leadership in maintaining the highest levels of service and continued product innovation to WSI’s customers.”
Walroth said: “This is a great time for WSI. We are excited to have the resources and long-term support from such a successful global company as Kao. Our people are especially excited to partner with such a company that shares our philosophy of investing in product innovation and exceptional customer service.
“We will now have the ability to take advantage of both longer-term planning and strategic investments, and this ultimately provides us a great opportunity to even better support our customers.”
