HISTORY
1882
The company was founded on date of 5th April 1882 under the name « Usines et Fonderies de Baume et Marpent », having two factory locations, one in Baume in the Wallon region in Belgium and the other in Marpent in the North of France. Both companies were active in the sector of trains, wagons, as well as in the construction of bridges and small barges. The company became quoted on the Brussels Stock Market since 1882.
1923
Independently, the company « Werkhuizen Vanderstaeten » was created in 1923 at the present headoffice site in Boechout, Belgium. This company was active in the construction of small iron household appliances, some of which were also galvanized at the Boechout plant.
As from 1937 the company’s name was changed into « Werkhuizen van Boechout » and in 1941 the company was merged with « Etablissement Thirion » transferring its name into « Verenigde werkhuizen van Boechout & Thirion ».
1962
During 1962 the company merged with « Baume-Marpent », at that time having production facilities at Morlanwelz and Haine-St-Pierre. This merger was initiated on request of the Belgian government in order to try to develop industrial activities in the Borinage.
As from that moment onwards the company’s name was transferred into « Baume, Marpent & Thirion Verenigd » - abbreviated B.M.T. nv ».
Since the merger dit not yield the expected results, the companies were split again in 1968 into B.M.T. nv on one side and the activities at Boechout and Vilvoorde under the name « Boechoutse Metaalfabrieken – B.M.F. nv » on the other side.
As from 1974 the two companies merged again under the name « B.M.T. nv ».
1981
A major part of the shares were transferred together to an industrial partner and the Regional Investment Company for Flanders in 1981.
1991
B.M.T. nv, further developing with three activities (sheet metal at Boechout, galvanization at Schoten and metal construction at Vilvoorde), merged with OMCO on date of March 27, 1991 with a goal for further development as intended for by its major shareholders at that time.
From that moment on, the Group has been greatly expanded.
1991
Acquisition of GMA GmbH (glass container moulds) in Austria as from January 1, 1991 ;
Acquisition of 70% of OMCO Formenbau GmbH (glass container moulds) in Germany as from November 1, 1991 ;
1992
Acquisition of 60% in the Watteeuw Group (Aerospace, Gears & Transmissions) in Oostkamp, Belgium as from January 1, 1992;
Acquisition of the assets of SOCOTHER nv in Aalter, Belgium as from January 1, 1992 ;
Sale of the galvanization department in Schoten, Belgium as from January 1, 1992.
1993
Acquisition (assets) of the sheet metal department of ATEA nv in Belgium as from October 1, 1993 ;
Acquisition of an extra 20% in the Watteeuw Group as from December 31, 1993.
1994
Acquisition of Durpoix & Fond sa (glass container moulds) in France as from January 1, 1994 ;
Acquisition of Cnud sa (glassengineering) in Belgium as from January 1, 1994.
1995
Foundation of BMT CR sro (Gears & Transmissions) in Czech Republic as from June 26, 1995 ;
Acquisition of remaining 20% in the Watteeuw Group as from October 27, 1995
1996
Acquisition (assets) of Churchill (glass container moulds) by OMCO Ltd.
as from 1996.
1997
Purchase of Straza Alatnica dd (glass container moulds) in Croatia as from
January 1, 1997 ;
Foundation of BMT-OMCO Zagreb doo as from May 2,1997.
1998
Foundation of BMT Romania srl. (Special Components, Gears & Transmissions) in Iasi, Romania as from September 9, 1998 ;
Purchase of EFCO GROUP Ltd. (glassengineering) in Great Britain as from November 11, 1998 ;
2000
Acquisition of Caratron Industries Inc. (Aerospace) USA, as from January 1, 2000.
Acquisition of the construction dept. of the housings for power transformers for the establishments of Pauwels Trafo Belgium in Mechelen and Ghent, as of January 1, 2000.
2001
Acquisition of the foundry FENIKS doo in Slovenia as per January 1, 2000.
Acquisition (assets) of G.M.S.I. (glass mould repair) by OMCO Ltd., as from April 20, 2001.
Foundation of the Joint Venture 'OMCO ISTANBUL' (glass container moulds) as per June 1, 2001.
Acquisition of 50% of the existing Chinese establisment of Amtech as from 1 June 2001.
2002
Divestment of division Efco Tempering Furnaces.
Foundation of BMT Aerospace, as of December 23, 2002.
2003
Autonomy of the OMCO Glass moulds division under the name of OMCO International nv, as of January 1, 2003.
2004
Divestment of the Sheet Metal division through a MBO operation as per June 30th 2004. Acquiring of all the BMT shares by Seynaeve Metaal Holding on date of 16 November 2004.
Delisting of BMT NV on the Brussels stockmarket as from 17 November 2004.
2005
The German division of the Glass Mould department OMCO has ceased activities as per end March 2005.
Foundation of OMCO Romania srl. (glass moulds) in Iasi, Romania as per 23 August 2005.
2006
Foundation of EMCO USA Llc. (glass moulds) in Zanesville, Ohio, USA as per 14 February 2006.
The activities of Efco Float have been transferred at the beginning of 2006 to CNUD Brussels. Following thereto, on April 1, 2006, the Efco Ltd. name was changed into KITE Glass Ltd. , the remaining glass processing plant in Weybridge, UK.
At the beginning of 2006 all the shares of the Chinese joint venture Amtech Precision Machinery Co. Ltd. have been acquired.
The French division of the Glass Mould department OMCO has ceased activities as per 12 July 2006