Since 1898 the company HILAIRE VAN DER HAEGHE has been active as exclusive distributor of technical equipment within the agricultural sector, the green sector and the sector of material handeling. We have always chosen to import products with a first rank technology and high quality.
A brief overview of our history
Hilaire van Der Haeghe celebrates its 125th anniversary.
HH Garden partners up with Aebi schmidt for the exclusive distribution of their entire sweeper range. For this reason a new division called HH Municipal is founded.
HH Garden start the exclusive distribution for Belgium and Luxemburg of the robotic mowers from Ambrogio.
We take over the import activities from the firm Kempeneer and broaden our range of products with the following brands: Gianni Ferrari, TS Industries, Köppl en Zacho.
HH Garden becomes an exclusive distributor for Walker in Belgium. Walker is an American manufacturer who produces the most compact zero-turn front mowers with integrated collection.
HH Garden develops into a Benelux-organisation. We grow from an exclusive distributor for Belgium to a role of exclusive distributor for the Benelux for the following brands: Iseki, Ferris, Simplicity, Solo, Hörger en Eco. The opening of our office in the Netherlands (Geldermalsen) is a fact and the team of Dutch colleagues for sales and after-sales is being recruited. This is the first important step in our ambitious expansion plans.
The end of the SAME distribution. Separation of the Agricultural activity in a CLAAS department and a FENDT-AMAZONE department. CLAAS sales and marketing activity is located in HH Sud (Fernelmont).
Adaptations and expansions of the HH Sud buildings.
The takeover of the AG-TEC company that has been distributing CLAAS tractors in Belgium since 2003.
HH Garden becomes exclusive importer of the brand FERRIS. Ferris is an American brand that is part of the Briggs & Stratton Group and has a strong reputation within the zero-turn professional lawn mowers.
Owing to the takeover of the american SNAPPER, Simplicity introduces an attractive range of lawn mowers and ride-on mowers in the HH range of products.
Establishment of the affiliate HH Sud in Wallonia (Fernelmont). The aim is the development of a "competence center" in the Walloon region and the support of the sales activity. The new buildings are taken into use at the end of 2002.
The celebration of the 100th anniversary. The turnover is 50 million euros.
Good news for the Garden department: 2 new top brands complement the existing range of products. SOLO, Germany: sprayers, tree saws and mowers. SIMPLICITY, USA: mowers.
The end of the ALLIS-CHALMERS story simultaneously means the beginning of a new challenge: YALE forklift trucks, number 1 in the USA, which will become the new driver for HH in the Material Handling department.
The arrangement with SAME, Italy for the distribution of its tractors, allows us to tap into another market segment and to boost our sales.
HH becomes importer of CLAAS, Germany, the number 1 in harvesters in Europe. Simultaneously, the distribution of FAHR agricultural machines is given away. Wit top brands such as FENDT, CLAAS and AMAZONE, it is now possible to quickly work on the further development of the Agriculture department. In the same year the negotiations with ISEKI, Japan are successfully concluded through which HH takes on the distribution of compact tractors, mower etc.
The daily management of the company has in the meanwhile been taken over by Christian, Jean and Marc Van der Haeghe.
Mowers HAYTER, England complement the range of products of the department Garden.
HH is entrusted with the distribution of tractors FENDT, Germany. The market share in Belgium is barely 2 % at this moment. A top brand deserves better: the last couple of years, we have grown to a more or less 14 %!
Move to Boomsesteenweg 174 in Antwerp.
Distribution of tractors and agricultural machines for the American producer, ALLIS-CHALMERS. Through expansion, machines for civil engineering are added to the activity of the company a few years later.
The family business is converted into a partnership with limited liability. The company is now located on the Sint Bernardsesteenweg on the 'Kiel' and warehouses are rented in Hoboken, mainly for the distribution of argicultural machines FAHR, Germany.
The mechanisation within the agriculture starts to develop rapidly. After the death of father Hilaire in 1929, Paul, Marcel and André Van der Haeghe are leading the company in a new direction by acting as a distributor on the Belgian market for fertiliser spreader and sowing machines of AMAZONE, Germany. In the same year, the agency of QUALCAST, England is acquiered for the distribution of mowers.
Lange Nieuwstraat, 79 Antwerp It is the address where Hilaire Vanderhaeghe established its own company. The company is active as a distributor in washing machines and wringers.
