Van Genechten Packaging
Encyclopedia
Van Genechten Packaging is a Belgian
printing company, located in Turnhout. It is one of the companies of the printing valley located around Turnhout, Belgium
.
, in 1808. His father married the sister of the wife of Philippus Jacobus Brepols
. J.E. Glénisson studied in Saint-Omer
(France
) and came to work afterwards in the Brepols
factory of his uncle in Turnhout. In 1830, he was promoted to first clerk. He married with C.A. Peeters. When in 1833 P.J. Brepols introduced his son-in-law into the company, Glénisson saw his chances to reach the top of the company evaporate, and started together with Antoine Van Genechten their own printing business in the Hofstraat in Turnhout.
They specialized themselves in the same products as Brepols, which of course lead to fierce competition. In 1837, they moved their company to the Warandestraat. On 2 January 1839 they founded their own magazine, the L’abeille de la Campine. This French-speaking magazine was not a success and after three years, as from January 1842, they changed it into a Flemish magazine De Kempische Bie, which lasted until 30 December 1843. In 1841 Glénisson and Van Genechten had about 80 employees, and in 1847 they had about 155 employees.
In 1855, the company Glénisson & Van Genechten was dissolved and Glénisson & Van Genechten established their own company. Glénisson remained in the factory in the Warandestraat and Van Genechten set up a new building in Den Dijk, now Merodelei, in Turnhout: Etabl. Antoine Van Genechten. The new company continued to produce the same products as its competitors.
On 15 December 1868 the company got a license for pressing Chinese playing cards
and in 1869, the factory was expanded. The printing of comics
(kinderprenten) was discontinued in 1870 and the printing blocks were sold to Beersmans-Pleek. On 14 July 1874, Antoine Van Genechten died and the company was continued by his oldest son-in-law, Jean De Somer. The company business expanded greatly, which was rewarded with honors at expositions in Belgium and abroad. In 1909, the company was incorporated into a N.V.. In 1912, Jan-Antoon De Somer succeeded his father and his brother, Paul De Somer, joined the Management Board of the company. In the meantime the company had started with the printing on packaging, and also specialised in printing of playing cards with publicity. In 1970 Van Genechten, together with Brepols and Biermans, founded Carta Mundi as a joint venture
. In 1971, Van Genechten acquired Biermans, to create Van Genechten Biermans (VGB).
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
printing company, located in Turnhout. It is one of the companies of the printing valley located around Turnhout, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
History
One of the originators of the company, J.E. Glénisson was born in Keeken, GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, in 1808. His father married the sister of the wife of Philippus Jacobus Brepols
Philippus Jacobus Brepols
Philippus Jacobus Brepols was a Belgian businessman and founder of the Brepols printing family-business in Turnhout, Belgium.In 1795, Pieter Corbeels, a printer from Leuven moved together with his assistant Philippus Jacobus Brepols, to Turnhout, possibly to flee the French military which occupied...
. J.E. Glénisson studied in Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer
Saint-Omer , a commune and sub-prefecture of the Pas-de-Calais department west-northwest of Lille on the railway to Calais. The town is named after Saint Audomar, who brought Christianity to the area....
(France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) and came to work afterwards in the Brepols
Brepols
Brepols was once one of the largest printing companies of the world and one of the main employers in Turnhout . Besides its printing business, Brepols is also active as a publisher...
factory of his uncle in Turnhout. In 1830, he was promoted to first clerk. He married with C.A. Peeters. When in 1833 P.J. Brepols introduced his son-in-law into the company, Glénisson saw his chances to reach the top of the company evaporate, and started together with Antoine Van Genechten their own printing business in the Hofstraat in Turnhout.
They specialized themselves in the same products as Brepols, which of course lead to fierce competition. In 1837, they moved their company to the Warandestraat. On 2 January 1839 they founded their own magazine, the L’abeille de la Campine. This French-speaking magazine was not a success and after three years, as from January 1842, they changed it into a Flemish magazine De Kempische Bie, which lasted until 30 December 1843. In 1841 Glénisson and Van Genechten had about 80 employees, and in 1847 they had about 155 employees.
In 1855, the company Glénisson & Van Genechten was dissolved and Glénisson & Van Genechten established their own company. Glénisson remained in the factory in the Warandestraat and Van Genechten set up a new building in Den Dijk, now Merodelei, in Turnhout: Etabl. Antoine Van Genechten. The new company continued to produce the same products as its competitors.
On 15 December 1868 the company got a license for pressing Chinese playing cards
Playing card
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...
and in 1869, the factory was expanded. The printing of comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
(kinderprenten) was discontinued in 1870 and the printing blocks were sold to Beersmans-Pleek. On 14 July 1874, Antoine Van Genechten died and the company was continued by his oldest son-in-law, Jean De Somer. The company business expanded greatly, which was rewarded with honors at expositions in Belgium and abroad. In 1909, the company was incorporated into a N.V.. In 1912, Jan-Antoon De Somer succeeded his father and his brother, Paul De Somer, joined the Management Board of the company. In the meantime the company had started with the printing on packaging, and also specialised in printing of playing cards with publicity. In 1970 Van Genechten, together with Brepols and Biermans, founded Carta Mundi as a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...
. In 1971, Van Genechten acquired Biermans, to create Van Genechten Biermans (VGB).
Source
- Glénisson & Van Genechten (Dutch)
- Etabl. Antoine Van Genechten (Dutch)