Kansas City wheel king Weld acquires HiPer Technology of Lawrence

Weld, the Kansas City maker of racing, off-road and specialty street wheels, has acquired HiPer Technology Inc., a Lawrence company known for making light, strong wheels for all-terrain vehicles.

“This strategic acquisition brings new markets as well as cutting-edge materials and processes to Weld,” president and CEO Norm Young said Monday in a release announcing the deal.

The companies are privately held, so the terms of the deal were not released. Weld, founded in Kansas City in 1967, has about 85 employees, and HiPer Technology has about 15 employees.

The acquisition puts five brands under the Weld umbrella, said Jennifer Collins, Weld’s marketing manager. She added that Weld and HiPer had already developed some products together that would be unveiled next week in Las Vegas at the SEMA Show, the specialty wheel industry’s annual trade show.

HiPer makes its wheels at its plant in Lawrence, Collins said, and Weld’s wheels are all manufactured in Kansas City or in Daytona, Fla., where the former CCW company is based. Weld acquired CCW almost a year ago.

In the release, Young said HiPer’s “super structural” strength carbon fiber composite technology would be integrated into Weld wheels where it strategically fit.

“The HiPer brand is unique and well respected by its customer base, and something that we will keep intact,” he said. “In addition, we have an aggressive plan to provide the resources necessary to continue to grow the brand.”

This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Kansas City wheel king Weld acquires HiPer Technology of Lawrence."