AJK NV. stands for Atelier Janssen Kaulille Ltd and is a medium sized Belgian Company situated in the Northern Limburg community of Bocholt. AJK NV was founded by Mr Jacques Janssen as a manufacturer and repairer of agricultural equipment in 1962.

With the arrival of central heating systems in the Sixties, Mr Janssen came up with the idea of building fuel and oil storage tanks. With this idea in mind the first workshop was built in 1963 in Achel. Within three years 20 people were employed.

With the rapid expansion of the business these premises were soon outgrown and a new purpose built plant was built in 1968 on the Peerderbaan with sufficient production and storage capacity to allow for further expansion. Also at this time AJK went from a sole trader to a limited liability status.

To reinforce the company financially new products were sought and to this end, containers for the Waste Industry were introduced in the Seventies. Demand for the company's products soon outstripped production and another move took place. In 1972 8.5 hectares were brought on the industrial park in Kaulille and the first 5000m of factory space was built.

By this time AJK was very well known in the transport sector in Benelux. Further transport and waste related products were introduced such as tipper bodies for commercial vehicles, semi-trailers, hooklift systems and drawbar trailers.

The excellent quality of the AJK product soon came to the attention of the commercial vehicle manufacturers. In co-operation with MAN an order for the Belgian Army for 3000 hopper barges was secured. This contract lasted from 1975-1979. Following on from this collaboration was an order for 2400 tipper bodies for Volvo in Sweden. As a result of these and other large orders, the production facilities at Kauliile was increased to 29,000m.

The workforce now stood at 140 employees. With the expansion of the factory, another product range was introduced - the waste compactor. AJK now employs in excess of 300 people.

In 1990 AJK Hydrolift NV was formed and currently employs 43 people. This part of AJK Group specialises in the production and sales of the hookloader and skiploader. All parts for these machines are made "in house" ensuring excellent quality control and the flexibility to respond to customers needs at short notice.

AJK has daughter companies in Germany, France and Holland. It also has dealers in Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and the Far East. The latest to join the ever growing family is Ground Level Demounts in the UK in March 2000.

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