MVT has acquired Kanigen Works Benelux and Kanigen France. With this acquisition, the group now operates three nickel-plating facilities located in Houthalen (Belgium), Genk (Belgium) and Bonneville (France), employing more than 100 people in total. Together, they offer a comprehensive solution for the European electroless nickel market.
“This expansion increases our capacity, shortens lead times and strengthens delivery reliability for industrial customers,” says Thomas Jeurissen, owner and CEO of MVT.
The Kanigen Group had been owned for over 30 years by the entrepreneurial della Faille family, led by Jean-Marie della Faille. With this acquisition, the strong family-driven business culture will be preserved. Current Kanigen CEO Edwin Pittomvils will remain in his role to ensure continuity and future growth.
For the Jeurissen family, the acquisition of Kanigen has special historical significance. In 1959, the grandfather of Thomas Jeurissen was Kanigen’s very first employee. The family lived on-site, where Thomas’ father was later born.
“That history makes this step particularly meaningful,” says Jeurissen, “but above all, it gives us the scale and stability we need to continue growing.”
With this acquisition, the family reconnects—three generations later—with the place where their story began. Two companies with a shared past now join forces as equal partners within one group.
Thanks to their specialized surface treatment, the group’s nickel-plated components are used in key technologies for international industry leaders. Applications range from semiconductor equipment for ASML and industrial compressors for Atlas Copco, to critical gearbox components for Volkswagen and many others. “Our solutions are an invisible yet essential link in high-end industrial systems,” Jeurissen explains.
Kanigen, with sites in Genk and Bonneville (France), has been a pioneer in electroless nickel plating since 1959 and is known for its stable processes and international customer base.
Founded in 1988, MVT operates from Houthalen and offers large processing capacity, treating metal components up to 4.5 meters in length and up to 10 tons, with lead times ranging from one to five working days.
The integration creates a group with more than 100 employees and twelve production lines across three sites. The combination of Kanigen’s chemical expertise and MVT’s high-capacity operations results in a scale that is exceptional in Europe. All three companies will continue operating from their current locations.
In the coming months, joint working groups will be established focusing on chemical processes, IT and internal organization.
This collaboration will accelerate knowledge sharing and improve operational alignment between the sites. In parallel, both companies will continue the digitalization of their processes, building on initiatives already started individually.
