Our history

Raphaël Matthys grew up in a family with a generation-long tradition of agricultural forges. In 1956, he was asked to make machines for the textile industry. The seed of the later Matthys Group was sown.

Raphaël succeeds in converting more than 500 shuttle looms in the region to non-shuttle looms. He was awarded several patents for this.

Raphaël starts building peripheral equipment for tufted carpets, like unwinders, creels, inspection units and winders.

Son Wim joins the business and continues it together with Raphaël.

The company grows and the area of the production halls increases from 3300m² to 9000m².

Acquisition of sector associate Evilo, specialising in automation for the textile world in the field of carpet confection and bobbin winders. As a result of this acquisition Matthys becomes internationally active.

After the construction of a new 6000 m² production hall, the umbrella name Matthys Group is launched.

MGC Subcontracting is established for activities such as turning, milling and roller production.

Matthys Group participates in FP Metal (now Shapes Metalworks) and De Beleyr Engineering respectively.

New production halls and offices are added.

Wim's eldest daughter, Charlotte, joins the company as the first member of the third generation. Daughter Valérie and son Justin also join in 2021 and 2022 respectively.

Matthys Group merges its Evilo division with one of its main suppliers, Elektro Industrie Van de Velde, and launches the merger company Motiv as a full-fledged specialist in automation and robotics.

A new assembly hall (5000m²) and powder coating installation are commissioned. Investments are also made in automatic warehouses and a tube laser.