The Company

Established in 1894 the original Balliu company was started by Leopold Balliu in a modest factory in Gent producing a small gas driven motor designed to pump water to horticultural gardens. From the early 1900's the company rapidly grew into a  specialist engineering concern with the development of a specialized mechanical process replacing the manually intensive preparation of rabbit skins for the hat and fur industry. This early success established NV L. Balliu MTC as a leading engineering company, supplying innovative and trend setting solutions to industry even in those early days.

During the early 1970's NV Balliu MTC introduced its first CNC controlled industrial laser system. This new departure reset the company's direction and established it as a high technology organization.

Throughout the 1970's and up to the present day Robert Balliu, the company's President, has taken NV L. Balliu MTC through a series of milestones that have included fundamental laser design, laser beam delivery development and a whole range of new laser processes.  With a customer base of approaching 2,000 varied and successful installations that includes many laser based systems the company has developed a comprehensive range of engineering solutions.  These can be simple stand alone systems through to complete turnkey production lines.

With a highly skilled and dedicated workforce NV L. Balliu MTC now produces and supplies a wide range of systems each year for a global market, encompassing processes such as laser, waterjet, plasma, and comprehensive work handling.

Strategically sited subsidiaries located in France, Germany, Italy, UK, Australia and the U.S. provide comprehensive domestic service and after sales support.  Now in its fourth generation the company, headquartered in Lokeren near to Gent, made a further major investment in its future when in 1998 it completed a move into a new purpose built 12,000 m2 factory designed to become a center of excellence.

In November 2002, the ABC (Anglo Belgian Corporation, NV), a member of the Ogepar Holding Group, was pleased to announce the acquisition of NV L. Balliu MTC located in Lokeren Belgium.  Balliu was a fourth generation owned company, now wholly owned by ABC.

ABC has been manufacturing diesel engines since 1912.  The company has the reputation of building robust and simple engines, with low fuel and lubricating oil consumption, long lifetime, low maintenance costs and easy accessibility.  Applications consist of: marine propulsion, locomotive propulsion, power devices and combined heat/power plants.

Pegard Productics, a member of the Ogepar Holding Group, manufactures and markets flexible manufacturing systems for the precise machining o medium to large parts.  These systems generally include Pegard's horizontal boring and milling machining centers, each of which is equipped with sophisticated controls, a proprietary robotic based tool management system, and material handling equipment.  The company has been producing high quality machine tools since its founding in 1937, targeting markets of manufacturers such as earth moving equipment, large pumps and valves, power plants, railroad equipment, machine tools, aerospace industry, large engines, and heavy mechanical industries.  Client companies include Caterpillar, Cummins Engine, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Siemens, ABB, MBB, Boeing, KWU Volvo, Komatsu, PBV-USA and many other leading worldwide manufacturers.

The company's prevailing policy of process development and advanced engineering design ensures that NV L. Balliu MTC remains at the forefront of laser based machine tool production.  Enjoying a rapidly increasing worldwide acceptance NV L. Balliu MTC is acknowledged by both its peers and customers to be a major engineering force.

• 1894

• 1918

• 1976

• 1982

• 1985

• 1987

• 1990

• 1991

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• 1995

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• 1998