Calko Group

What Calko Group does

Calko Group is a privately held, vertically integrated textile manufacturer established in 1954 and headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. The company manufactures and distributes a diversified portfolio spanning industrial protective wear (balaclavas, hoods, Kevlar sleeves, neck warmers), flame-resistant and arc flash compliant workwear (NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112), medical-grade first aid supplies (bandages, stockinette, adhesive strips), custom sublimated athletic apparel, narrow fabrics and cords, and custom packaging solutions through its Cheslow Specialties division. Operations are distributed across manufacturing facilities in Canada (Montreal HQ, Concord, Ontario), the United States (Swanton, Vermont — home of Green Mountain Knitting, one of the largest knit trim manufacturers in North America), the Dominican Republic (QEL Dominicana), and China (QMD Medical supply chain).

The business operates through a multi-channel B2B model combining direct enterprise field sales (VP Sales and Marketing, Sales Account Managers, Inside Sales, Business Development Analysts), a formal distributor program, and an e-commerce storefront with account-based pricing. Strategic alliances include the Alpex USA joint venture (formed February 2022 with Alpex Protection) for distribution of PFAS-safe laminates using DuPont Nomex Nano Flex and Nomex Nano materials, and the July 2024 acquisition of Confection Lamartine, a workwear and safety apparel brand.

The company serves six primary use-case segments: industrial safety and workwear (primary), medical and healthcare, mining (Canadian Far North), sports teams and athletic organizations, fire/military/personal protection, and retail/consumer products. It maintains a broad certification stack including ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, UL, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, NFPA 70E, and NFPA 2112, providing regulatory positioning in safety-critical end-markets. The company appears to be family-controlled, with multiple Ayoub family members in leadership positions.

Name

Calko Group

Legal name

Calko Group

Website

https://calkogroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Calko Group is a vertically integrated textile manufacturer founded in 1954, producing industrial protective wear, flame-resistant workwear, medical supplies, and custom athletic apparel across facilities in Canada, the U.S., Dominican Republic, and China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Protective Wear and Textiles

NAICS

Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors) (31525), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599), Textile Product Mills (314)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130)

akta.pro primary industry

Workwear, Uniforms & Safety Apparel Cut & Sew (IMAOAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workwear, Uniform & Protective Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAH), Textiles, Fabrics, Trims & Components Suppliers (CRAAAAAL), Workwear, Uniforms & Corporate Apparel Wholesale (CRAOADAF), Elastic, Tapes & Webbing Manufacturing (Elastic Bands/Binding/Strapping/Webbing) (IMAOALAD)

Keywords

• Industrial protective wear
• Medical supplies manufacturing
• Custom athletic apparel
• Technical textiles laminates
• Narrow fabrics cords

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Safety and Protective Wear: Manufacture and sale of protective clothing including lined and unlined protective clothing, balaclavas, hoods, Kevlar sleeves, neck warmers, watchcaps, and industrial workwear meeting safety standards (NFPA 70E, NFPA 2112).
2. First Aid and Medical Supplies: Production of medical bandages (elastic, conforming), stockinette rolls, adhesive strips, and medical-grade first aid supplies through QMD Medical brand.
3. Custom Athletic and Specialty Apparel: Custom sublimated athletic wear including jerseys, hoodies, t-shirts, backpacks for sports teams and organizations with logo customization.
4. Technical Textiles and Laminates: PFAS-safe laminate distribution through Alpex USA joint venture, including flame retardant fabrics and moisture barriers for protective workwear.
5. Custom Packaging and Display Solutions: Cheslow Specialties division provides elastic loops, cord assemblies, and custom closures for point-of-sale displays, signage, and promotional materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Calko Group is a vertically integrated textile manufacturer established in 1954, producing and distributing industrial protective wear (Kevlar sleeves, balaclavas, hoods, flame-resistant garments), medical and first aid supplies (bandages, stockinette, adhesive strips), custom athletic apparel (sublimated team jerseys, hoodies, backpacks), specialty fabrics, narrow fabrics and cords, and packaging/display solutions through its Cheslow Specialties division. The company operates across multiple manufacturing facilities in Canada, the USA, and the Dominican Republic, serving industrial, healthcare, sports, and retail customers globally.

Product overview

Calko Group is a vertically integrated manufacturer established in 1954, offering a diversified portfolio of industrial, medical, and consumer textile products. The company operates across multiple product categories including High Performance Fabrics, Technical Textiles (via Alpex USA joint venture), Narrow Fabric and Cords, Specialty Apparel, First Aid and PPE, Industrial Protective Wear, Safety and Workwear Apparel, and Custom Athletic Apparel. The portfolio includes subsidiary brands such as Green Mountain Knitting (knit trim manufacturing), QMD Medical (medical supplies), and acquired brands including Lamartine (protective workwear). Specialty offerings like Cheslow Specialties provide custom packaging solutions and display accessories. The company serves multiple industries with products ranging from protective workwear meeting NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112 standards to medical-grade first aid supplies and sublimated team apparel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Green Mountain Knitting: Knit trim manufacturer established in 1985, now located in Swanton, Vermont, serving the U.S. market with cut and sew and specialty knitting capabilities.
• QMD Medical
• QEL Dominicana
• Tex Style
• Alpex USA
• Lamartine
• Cheslow Specialties

Products and services

• High Performance Fabrics Performance textiles designed for industrial, protective, and specialized applications.
• Alpex USA Technical Textiles and Laminates Technical laminates and PFAS-safe textile solutions including Nomex Nano Flex and Nomex Nano barrier materials for industrial, fire, military, and personal protection industries.
• Narrow Fabric and Cords Narrow width textiles and cord products for industrial and commercial applications.
• Specialty Apparel Specialized clothing including high visibility, medical, institutional, and team apparel with customization options.
• First Aid and PPE Medical-grade first aid supplies and personal protective equipment including stockinette, conforming bandages, and elastic bandages.
• Cheslow Specialties Custom packaging and display solutions including Figure 8 Loops, Stitch Loops, Barb and Eyelet assemblies, and other closure products for retail point-of-sale displays, signage, and promotional materials.
• Industrial Protective Wear Protective accessories including Balaclavas (1-hole and 3-hole), Hoods, Kevlar Sleeves (single ply and two ply with/without thumb), Liners, Neckwarmers, and Watchcaps for industrial worker safety.
• Safety and Workwear Apparel Protective workwear including lined protective clothing (Arc Flash NFPA 70E, Flame Resistant NFPA 2112), unlined protective clothing, 3-in-1 compatible clothing, lined industrial clothing, classic workwear, extreme cold parkas, and polar/softshell jackets.
• Custom Athletic Apparel Custom sublimated sportswear and accessories including drawstring bags, sublimated backpacks, sublimated jerseys (soccer, hockey, basketball), sublimated hoodies, sublimated t-shirts, and sublimated accessories for sports teams.
• QMD Medical Bandages Medical supplies including stockinette rolls in various lengths and materials (polyester and cotton), conforming bandages (lightweight, breathable, highly stretchable), and elastic bandages with compression capability (latex-free versions available).
• Kevlar Sleeves Personal protective equipment made of Kevlar synthetic fiber to protect workers from cuts, abrasions and heat, available in single ply and two ply versions with thumb option, in sizes 10 inches, 12 inches, and 18 inches.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70+ years of manufacturing experience since 1954
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Confection LamartinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Calko Group completed acquisition of Confection Lamartine effective July 1, 2024. This acquisition marks a significant milestone in strategic growth and commitment to expanding product offerings and market presence. Confection Lamartine's dedication to quality and innovation aligns with Calko Group's vision and values. Anna Turchetta appointed as Director of Business Development of Confection Lamartine.
• Alpex ProtectioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Alpex USA is a joint venture created in February 2022 between Alpex Protection and Calko Group. Both companies are known for dedication to high-performance textiles in Industrial, Fire, Military, and Personal Protection service industries. Focus is on distribution of laminates developed by Alpex Protection, particularly multilayers using Nomex Nano Flex and Nomex Nano barrier materials from Dupont.
• DuPont (Nomex brand)coreTechnology or IntegrationAlpex USA uses Nomex Nano Flex and Nomex Nano innovative barrier materials produced by Dupont in their laminate products for North American distribution. These materials are used in flame retardant protective workwear and high-performance moisture barrier protection products.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sioen Industries: Belgian technical-textiles group producing coated fabrics, high-performance protective apparel, and narrow technical textiles. Comparable to Calko on technical textile manufacturing and PFAS-compliant protective fabric development.
• National Safety Apparel: Family-owned US manufacturer specializing in FR/AR workwear, arc-rated garments, and cut-protection sleeves (Kevlar). Direct competitor to Calko's Lamartine and Kevlar sleeve lines with similar B2B industrial sales motion.
• Lakeland Industries: Public manufacturer of protective clothing including flame-resistant, arc-rated, chemical, and disposable garments. Closely comparable to Calko's cut-and-sew workwear and protective apparel portfolio and overlapping customer base in industrial safety.
• Kappler: US manufacturer of protective garments and chemical/biological suits for industrial, hazmat and emergency response markets. Comparable as a mid-sized specialty manufacturer serving protected-worker end markets.
• Bulwark Protection: VF Corporation-owned flame-resistant workwear brand offering NFPA 2112-compliant garments. Competes head-to-head with Calko's Lamartine brand in FR apparel sold through workwear distributors.

Broad incumbents

• Ansell: Global leader in protective gloves and apparel for industrial and healthcare workers. Comparable as a broad PPE incumbent with overlapping end-markets (industrial safety, medical) where Calko's Kevlar sleeves and QMD medical bandages compete.
• DuPont Personal Protection: Producer of Nomex and Kevlar fibers and a customer/adjacent partner to Calko via the Alpex USA joint venture. Comparable as both a supplier to and competitor against Calko's flame-retardant protective apparel lines.
• Honeywell Safety Products: Major PPE and gas-detection manufacturer serving industrial, fire and military markets. Comparable incumbent across Calko's industrial protective wear and Alpex USA fire/military laminate applications.
• MSA Safety: Global safety-equipment manufacturer spanning head, eye, hearing, fall, and respiratory protection sold to industrial and fire-service customers. Comparable as a broad incumbent bidding for the same B2B safety budgets Calko addresses.
• 3M Personal Safety Division: Diversified global PPE manufacturer covering respiratory, hearing, fall, and protective apparel. Comparable as a broad incumbent setting baseline pricing and certification standards for Calko's protective wear segments.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/people/CALKO-GROUP/100066588345166
• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/calko-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/calkogroup

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calko Group