A passion for technology
The Bernard van Lengerich Group
The BvL group of companies today stands for innovative technology with the highest quality requirements in the three strong divisions of agricultural machinery, cleaning technology and electrical engineering.
Worldwide active group of companies with headquarters in Emsbüren
Three divisions: agricultural machinery, cleaning technology and electrical engineering
Variety of investments in research & development
BvL always also means the van Lengerich family: The development of the company is closely linked to its history. Master smith Gerhard van Lengerich founded a blacksmith and coachbuilding shop as “Maschinenfabrik Bernhard van Lengerich (BvL)” in Emsbüren in Germany in 1860. His son Bernard van Lengerich has since lent his name to the BvL brand. Even 150 years later, the company is still owned by the family. Bernhard van Lengerich and Bernhard Sievering are already the fifth generation to manage the strongly growing group of companies. As equal partners, they head up a company with almost 400 qualified employees, all perfectly ready for the future.
Healthy growth in a family atmosphere
As a dynamic, modern industrial operation, the group of companies today achieves a total turnover of more than 60 million euros. More than 60 per cent of the turnover comes from abroad. This means the group has a strong focus on export business.
A lot is being done to further expand the technological leadership in global and local competition. “We invest heavily in research and development so our highly specialised divisions can meet our customers’ individual requests in the best possible way. This also includes equipping our machines with an intelligent machine control for greater internal and external productivity,” explains Managing Director Bernard van Lengerich. In addition to the in-house development departments, the individual divisions collaborate with different renowned research and teaching institutes.
Employees have always had a high priority at BvL. This becomes evident from two figures: With almost 400 employees and an apprenticeship rate of around 8 per cent, the commitment of BvL is far above the average. In addition, the company offers more than 50 work experiences each year. “Flat organisational structures and innovative team spirit have a long tradition at BvL. Personal contact and good communication among employees are very important to us,” explains Managing Director Bernhard Sievering. A strategy that pays off: BvL employees are very loyal to the company and on average spend more than ten years working there.
Origins of the group: BvL Maschinenfabrik
BvL Maschinenfabrik is the largest division with the longest tradition. Today, BvL Maschinenfabrik is one of the worldwide leading manufacturers of innovative and intelligent feeding equipment for livestock. Mixer wagons and feed dispensing equipment for cattle farming on dairy farms are the defining items in the portfolio of the machine factory. The range also includes modern dispensing, spreading, biogas and system equipment. The “Made for me!” concept places a focus on manufacturing to customer specifications with a large number of variants. To this day, the machine factory has ensured that BvL is among the leading manufacturers worldwide trough continuous innovations, such as self-propelled mixer wagons.
Intelligent parts cleaning: BvL Oberflächentechnik
BvL Oberflächentechnik was founded in 1989 as a full subsidiary of BvL Maschinenfabrik. “Today the company is one of the largest suppliers for industrial cleaning in Germany,” explains Managing Director Bernhard Sievering. Since then, the company has strengthened its international position, relying on an extensive sales and service network in more than 19 countries. The product range comprises water-based parts cleaning systems, which are used, for example, for removing cutting fluids, swarf and deposits from manufactured parts in production as well as for repairs or for coating pre-treatments. As a system partner, BvL Oberflächentechnik always offers individual customer solutions with integrated services – from compact washing units, state-of-the-art deburring systems, filtration and automated solutions to complex large projects with process monitoring.
Three's a charm: BvL Elektrotechnik
BvL Elektrotechnik is the smallest division of the group. Electrification of agricultural machinery and introduction of milking equipment were already topics in the early days of the company, around 1923. Today, BvL Elektrotechnik has 25 employees and, as a regionally active family-run company, covers a range of different services in the area of electrical installation, safety equipment and building automation.