In 1997 a group of scientists that played a major role in pioneering South Africa's nuclear efforts while working under the auspices of the South African Government, formed a new private research and development company, first called Scientific Development and Integration (Pty) Ltd and in 2008 was renamed Klydon (Pty) Ltd.

Derived from Ancient Greek: A tempestuous typhonic wind; a surge

With government approval and the regulation of the IAEA, Klydon sought to utilize their considerable knowledge and experience in the areas of isotope separation and lasers to develop new commercial applications. The personnel complement of Klydon today has an accrued cumulative experience of more than 500 years in the areas of isotope separation, laser technology and related fields.

Klydon's first commercial products were specialized lasers. The laser division (now named SDI Lasers) became an important global supplier of high performance laser systems. Today, Klydon's portfolio of technology puts the company on the leading edge of secular trends in energy generation, emissions management, aerospace and semiconductor development, among others.