HAKI expands fall protection offer with Combisafe deal

HAKI Safety has agreed to acquire selected Combisafe operations from PIP Global Safety as it looks to expand its fall protection business across Europe.

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HAKI Safety has signed an agreement to acquire selected operations of Combisafe, the fall protection brand best known for temporary edge protection and catchfan systems used on construction and infrastructure projects.

The deal is expected to complete at the start of the third quarter of 2026.

The acquisition will see HAKI take on selected Combisafe assets, including the brand, product portfolio, patent and design rights, customer relationships and certain operating assets. Operations and staff will transfer to HAKI Safety.

The purchase price is USD 2m, around £1.5m, for the net assets. The sellers will also contribute around USD 2m, again about £1.5m, to cover possible change-related costs.

Combisafe is currently owned by PIP Global Safety. It has annual turnover of about SEK 80m, around £6.4m, and employs more than 30 people across 6 countries. Its products are sold in about 20 countries.

HAKI said the deal will broaden its work zone safety offer and increase its presence in Europe. Combisafe’s product range includes edge protection and catchfans used to protect workers and the public on high-rise, public building, renovation and infrastructure schemes.

Sverker Lindberg, President and CEO of HAKI Safety, said the acquisition would give the group access to more markets and make it “a real player in the European fall protection market”.

He said: “It is with great confidence that I look forward to welcoming Combisafe to the HAKI Safety family. We have previously acquired fall protection companies and therefore find it very gratifying to acquire the Swedish pioneering company, with its unique product portfolio and brand.”

But HAKI has also acknowledged the work needed to improve the business. Combisafe has been unprofitable for the past few years.

Lindberg said: “It is evident that the company has challenges with its profitability. But we know the products and see the synergies. Once the acquisition is completed, we will immediately begin extracting both sales and product synergies. Our ambition is a fast integration process and to regain profitability in this fine business within a short time.”

Curt Holtz, CEO of PIP Global Safety, said Combisafe had a “rich history” but edge protection was no longer central to PIP’s strategy.

He said: “This brand is a good fit for the HAKI Safety team, and we believe they will be the right owner going forward.”

Combisafe was founded in Sweden in 1987 and has changed ownership several times since 2008. HAKI Safety has already bought other fall protection businesses linked to the same market, including Vertemax in 2021 and Novakorp Systems in 2022.

Those companies now sit within HAKI’s Work Zone Safety business area under the HAKI brand.

Daniel Norton
Daniel NortonFounder & Editorhttps://www.scaffmag.com
Daniel Norton is the founder and editor of Scaffmag and Editor-in-Chief of Scaffold & Access Magazine. A former scaffolder, he founded Scaffmag in 2008 and now leads its news and editorial coverage of the global scaffolding and access industry, including safety, regulation, business, innovation and major industry events.

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