Collette™ is one of the world's leading manufacturers of high quality machinery for mixing, granulation and drying. The main target industry sector is the pharmaceutical industry. Besides pharmaceutical equipment, Collette™ also offers equipment for the food and fine-chemical industry. With more than a century of experience, our company is recognized within these industry sectors as an innovative supplier that has a complete understanding of the industry's needs. Also the availability of a fully equipped laboratory, the PDC (Process development Center), for product and feasibility tests, is a major asset for understanding customers' needs.
History
1892: the beginning
The history starts in 1892, when a Walloon engineer, Emiel Collette, lost his heart to a girl from Antwerp. This love story led to the foundation of "Werkhuizen Collette" in the center of Antwerp. "Werkhuizen Collette" was a mechanical construction company that produced mainly dough mixer-kneaders for the bakery industry. During the first decades of the 20th century the company knew a steady growth and became widely known for the robust and reliable execution of their equipment.
The 1920's and 1930's: expansion
After World War I, Mr. Alfred Collette took over the lead of the company from his father and focussed on the growing industrialization. Collette NV was now producing machinery for several other industry sectors than the bakery industry. For example paint mixers, potato scrapers and almond crushers were part of the machine range Collette NV had to offer.
The 1940's to 1960's: internationalization
After World War II, Collette NV knew a revival by expanding the scope of their equipment to the pharmaceutical industry. Besides industrial mixers they now also manufactured planetary mixers for both food and pharmaceutical industry. At the end of the fifties, Alfred Collette's son-in-law, Ir. Emiel Sanctorum, came in charge of the company and he invested a lot in research for new machinery and in export activities, especially to France and the BENELUX. Under his impulse, Collette NV knew a tremendous growth and the company had to move to a more suitable location then the centre of Antwerp. In 1963, the factory was moved to Wommelgem, where it is still located. As for the investment in new technologies, the most important developments from this time were the high speed kneader (SM-series), which would later turn out to be the predecessor of the first machine especially designed for pharmaceutical industry, and the MICO Collette, an automatic grinding machine originally designed for in-house use, but now still used by many large companies in the automotive industry.
The 1970's and 1980's: the pharmaceutical industry
The definite breakthrough in the pharmaceutical industry came with the incorporation of Collette NV into the GEI-group in 1972 and with the introduction of the first High Shear Mixer Granulator (GRAL) in 1975. From that time on, Collette NV has become an established name in the pharmaceutical industry. Collette NV stands for innovation, new technologies and service. In 1980 the one-pot concept was introduced with the TOPO-design and the GRAL-processor. In 1982, the TOPO-house opened, a test lab for the customers, now better known as the Process development Center (PDC).
The 1990's: continuing innovation
With the introduction of the Vactron in 1990, Collette NV was one of the first machine manufacturers to promote microwave drying for pharmaceutical applications, emphasizing its focus towards this industry.
But Collette NV also remained true to its roots, and still invested a lot in the development of machinery for the food industry. In 1993 for example, they introduced the CONVERTICOLL, a continuous mixer-aerator, and in 1998 the CREAM MASTER has been introduced, a continuous fat cream aeration system.
In 1992, when Collette celebrated its 100th anniversary, the original TOPO-house has been expanded, re-planned and re-equipped to become the Process Development Center. By now it has become a household word in the industry and many of our customers come there to run tests with their own products.
2000:
In November 1999, the GEA-group acquired the 4 companies of the pharmaceutical processing unit of the GEI-group, among which Collette NV.
This meant the start of a whole new period in the history of our company. The incorporation of Collette NV into GEA Pharma Systems, the pharmaceutical division of the Process Engineering Division of the GEA group, offers new opportunitie
s to our company. Now Collette NV is able to supply complete processing lines for the pharmaceutical industry together with the other companies of the same division. Also the role of the PDC in the promotion of our equipment range and in our customer-relationships will become even more important.
Another major event at the beginning of the 21st century was the introduction of a new range of high shear mixers and single pot processors, the ULTIMATM range. This new range is the successor of the GRAL and VACTRON ranges and answers to the strictest cGMP requirements. Its introduction signals the continuing focus of Collette on innovation and customer satisfaction.
Today:
GEA Pharma Systems nv - Collette™ is still located in Wommelgem, near Antwerp, but its premises have grown over the years. Under the leadership of Mr. Emiel De Naeghel, the Managing Director of Collette™ until 2002, the company has continued to grow and invest in new developments for both food and pharmaceutical industry.
GEA Pharma Systems nv - Collette™ considers the customer's satisfaction of paramount importance and therefore a lot of effort is made to follow closely the needs of the industries served. Our personnel are well trained and highly motivated to serve our customers the best way they can. Validation services, project management, quality control and after sales support are only a few ways in which Collette™ tries to serve its customers to their full satisfaction.