Gold for rolling bridge specialist

When they work in West Flanders, they work hard. But when they party, they party. At construction workhouses Deman, they know all about it. Since its founding in 1945, the family business has evolved from constructing patented flax machines and telescopic construction cranes to building overhead cranes and gantry cranes for fifty years now. On June 20, Managing Director Kurt Deman invited his customers, suppliers, partners and employees to a big party in honor of this golden anniversary.

Family business Deman started out manufacturing flax machines and construction cranes, but has been building overhead cranes for 50 years.

Deman built the very first overhead crane in 1969 at the request of the Volon Brothers for loading and unloading rebar. The first gantry crane was delivered to furniture factory Bauwens in Beernem. When Kurt Deman took over the torch in 1997, the company had already produced more than 2,000 overhead cranes. "Today we are approaching the 4,000 mark and have become the most progressive crane manufacturer in Belgium," says the business manager. "It comes down to listening to customers and converting their needs into a suitable solution. Cooperation with our partners plays a crucial role in this. Just think of the 'smart features' that make overhead cranes faster, safer and more efficient. Safety also starts with in-depth training of the overhead crane operator, and to that end we created our Triskel Competence Center in 2016."

Party with a golden edge

On June 20 last, customers, suppliers, partners and employees signed up for the golden anniversary celebration. A tour of the production and training center was followed by an aperitif with accompanying appetizers and a walking dinner. In between, Deman looked back on the history of the company, the current situation and the vision for the future. At the same time, the business manager unveiled the new logo and baseline "Smart Overhead Cranes," which will form the basis for another fifty years of construction work houses Deman. Everything at the party was given a golden touch: the furniture and lighting, even the spoons and specially brewed beer that everyone took home as a souvenir: The Golden Man.