KMWE celebrates 70 years of innovation and growth
April 23, 1955 marks the beginning of our extraordinary journey. What started in a small workshop in Eindhoven has grown into an international player in the high-tech industry. For 70 years, innovation, growth and collaboration have been our motivation. This anniversary year is a moment to reflect on our impressive journey and look ahead to a promising future.
A rich history
Our story begins in 1955 in a modest workshop in Eindhoven, equipped with just one milling and one turning machine. Under the leadership of our late founder, Harrie Geven, we quickly developed into a serious supplier for companies such as Philips and DAF. Harrieās vision and dedication continue to form the foundation of who we are today. Through continuous investments in people, machinery, and technology, we further expanded our activities.
In 1992, Berry Geven and Bert van Gijzel took over the business and expanded the focus to include assembly, prototyping, and engineering activities. The transition from conventional machines to CNC technology and the expansion into new markets, such as the semiconductor and aerospace industries, marked a turning point.
In 2007, Edward Voncken and Marc Evers joined as new shareholders alongside Berry Geven, leading to a renewed strategic focus. Despite the financial crisis in 2009, we took an important international step that year with the establishment of KMWE Malaysia, further expanding our global operations.
The acquisition of DutchAero (now known as KMWE Aerospace) in 2014 provided a solid foundation in the aerospace sector. The start of a joint venture with India-based IDEAS that same year further strengthened our position, this time in engineering.
A new phase began in 2017 when Aalberts Investments became a co-shareholder, offering us further growth opportunities and enabling us to achieve our strategic goals more quickly.
In 2019, we expanded our activities further with the acquisition of ATM Oirschot, a specialist in high-quality surface treatments and component cleaning for various materials. That same year, we relocated to the Brainport Industries Campus, an innovative and sustainable environment in which we further optimise our production.
In 2023, we took further steps with the establishment of KMWE China (Leshan) and started the relocation of KMWE Aerospace to the Brainport Industries Campus.
In 2024, we started our Additive & Re-use activities, responding to circular production and sustainability.
At the end of 2024, we welcomed Quadrum Capital as a strategic partner. This collaboration makes us even more complete and enables us to further realise our growth ambitions and strengthen our market position. Plenty of reasons to celebrate our 70th anniversary in 2025 with all 650 employees and continue our growth ambitions for the coming years!
Innovation as a driving force
We have always distinguished ourselves through our innovative approach. Whether it involves the development of advanced production processes or collaboration with strategic partners, innovation is in our DNA. Our employees work hard to develop smart solutions for complex challenges in the high-tech and aerospace industries. We thank them for their dedication, commitment, and passion, which have made KMWE a success.
A future full of possibilities
As we celebrate our 70th anniversary, we are also looking ahead. In the coming years, we will continue to build on further growth, with a focus on sustainability, digitalisation, and strengthening our international position. None of this would be possible without the trust and support of our customers and partners. We thank them for their continued collaboration and look forward to achieving further success together.