History

About Forrez >

Forrez Tyres was founded in November 1964. Lucien Forrez late, together with his wife Maria Decuypere, started mounting tires in a garage behind their house. Zillebeke is located in a large agricultural area, so the choice to specialize in agricultural tyres was obvious. In addition to tyres, Lucien Forrez also increasingly specialized in carrying out repairs to steel rims. There,the foundation was laid for an own rim construction.

Lucien Forrez and Maria Decuypere left their company in 1996 to two of their children: late Paul Forrez and Christine Forrez, the wife of Geert Mertens. Geert took the lead of the daily operation of the company, together with Paul. In the Netherlands, “De Hoeve, tyres and wheels” was taken over, which later became Forrez Nederland. In 2002 its own rim construction was started up in Ypres.

Lucien Forrez, driving force and founder of the company, passed away in February 2008 and Paul took an operational step back in 2009 due to persistent health problems. In the meantime, an Advisory Board was set up in which both family shareholders, together with the external directors, could help guide the policy. In June 2009 a new distribution center was operational. In 2014, Forrez Banden celebrated thier the 50th anniversary, Paul retired and Geert Mertens was appointed CEO of the company.

Acquisitions followed each other in quick succession and now Forrez Banden has 17 of its own branches, mainly spread over the west and south of Belgium. The company employs a strong team of specialists who are committed to professional knowledge, a fair price and customer service.

In 2020, a second brand new distribution center will be set up to strengthen the wholesale trade, mainly exporting to the Benelux and France.

CEO GEERT MERTENS

Engineer for chemical and agricultural industries UGent 1981-1986

Vlerick school of management: 1986 - 1987

Monsanto / Bayer Antwerp: 1987 - 1994

Joins the family business in the summer of 1994

Back

Webdesign by IDcreation 2015 - Cookie Policy

Top