A look behind the scenes at KLINGER Belgium
Kanaal Z visited Vilvoorde and Oelegem for a report on our company. About what we manufacture, what we advise, and why sustainability for us is not a chapter in an annual report but something you see in our production and in our fleet.
VIDEO (6 min)
In six minutes, you get the full story.
Who we are
“KLINGER is a global supplier of industrial products and solutions for the process industry, with our headquarters in Austria,” says Manuel Sannen, Managing Director of KLINGER Belgium. “We have a rich history of more than a century and are proud of our locations in Vilvoorde and Oelegem, which serve not only as offices but also as production centers for assembly.”
Those two locations are not a minor detail. They mean that we don’t just deliver what is in the catalog, but also assemble and produce what a customer specifically needs.
What we deliver, and what we provide alongside it
Our range is broad, and that is a conscious choice.
“Our offering at KLINGER Belgium is diverse: from filters, valves, and seals to heat exchangers and flow meters,” explains David Dierickx, Technical Manager. “Thanks to this versatility, we can realize turnkey projects. We work with our own KLINGER products and with products from permanent partners.”
But a product alone rarely solves a problem. That is why we also share our knowledge through training and advice.
“An incorrect product choice can lead to installation errors or even production downtime,” says Elke Ghersin, Product Specialist. With targeted training — flange management and steam technology, for example — we help our customers make those choices correctly.
Behind all that is one fixed standard. “We always keep the Total Cost of Ownership in mind,” emphasizes Manuel Sannen. “This ensures that our solutions are not only safe and sustainable, but also cost-saving.”
Sustainability for our customers & ourselves
Demand is changing, and we are changing with it.
“Sustainability has always been important to our customers,” says Frank Vanwynsberghe, Sales Manager. “We see a growing demand for solutions that reduce CO₂ emissions and are more environmentally friendly. Companies are increasingly deploying special teams for these issues, and we help them realize these sustainability goals.”
That story is only credible if it also concerns our own production. Patrick de Letter, Business Development Manager, gives a concrete example: “We have made the production of sealing sheets more sustainable by switching from ethanol to bio-ethanol. As a result, we achieve an annual CO₂ reduction of no less than 100 tons.”
One hundred tons per year, through one change in one production process.
“Our years of experience mean that our solutions are sustainable and cost-efficient,” adds Gauthier De Schouwer, Sr. Product Specialist & Service Manager. “For us, sustainability is not a trend, but a core value that we place at the center of every collaboration.”
The same line continues in our personnel policy. “We encourage the use of public transport by fully reimbursing it, offer bicycle allowances and lease options, and our fleet is largely electric and hybrid,” says Eveline Bosmans, HR Manager. “Furthermore, we facilitate working from home, which contributes to a smaller ecological footprint.”
One hundred tons per year, through one
change in one production process
“Our years of experience mean that our solutions are sustainable and cost-efficient,” adds Gauthier De Schouwer, Sr. Product Specialist & Service Manager. “For us, sustainability is not a trend, but a core value that we place at the center of every collaboration.”
The same line continues in our personnel policy. “We encourage the use of public transport by fully reimbursing it, offer bicycle allowances and lease options, and our fleet is largely electric and hybrid,” says Eveline Bosmans, HR Manager. “Furthermore, we facilitate working from home, which contributes to a smaller ecological footprint.”
Growing through acquisitions
In recent years, we have expanded our offering and our local expertise through acquisitions. The most visible is that of the Belgian Philippe Jans, today KLINGER Oelegem, where custom seals, rubber products, and industrial hoses are produced and assembled.
“Through this expansion, we offer strong local service and can serve customers even better,” says Manuel Sannen.
Christophe Jans, Business Development Manager and former director of Philippe Jans, looks back on it this way: “Philippe Jans was ready for a next step. With KLINGER, we found a partner who shares the same values and vision for the future. Together, we can continue to build a sustainable future.”
Where we want to go
We continue to invest in sustainability and in long-term relationships — with customers, with partners, and with our own people.
“Our HR future vision is focused on attracting and retaining talent,” says Eveline Bosmans. “We want to not only be attractive to new employees but also invest in our current team. We will continue to invest in this in the coming years, because we believe that our people are the core of our success.”
That is what it ultimately comes down to: making industrial processes safer and more efficient, and being ready whenever a customer needs us.