1921
The Belgian government urges industrialists to manufacture products to facilitate reconstruction after the destruction caused by WW1. Alfons Nelissen takes this request to heart and starts producing bricks.
1930s
The second generation joins the company with Mathieu and Maria Nelissen. In 1937, production is expanded with an additional factory in Tienen. Julien Nelissen takes charge of day-to-day operations.
Transporting and stacking bricks in the drying racks, a labour-intensive activity.
The Tienen plant enables a significant increase in production capacity.
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Maria Nelissen -
Mathieu Nelissen -
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1950s
Business in Kesselt increases, the factory flourishes. Nelissen Bricks becomes an important employer.
Originally, the handmade bricks were dried on open-air drying racks before being fired in the ring kiln.
1960s
The family business expands, not only with the introduction of the 3rd generation with Gaston Nelissen and Gisela and Guido Gevers, but also with the arrival of new industrial developments. Thanks to the first tunnel kiln and tunnel drying plant, production is no longer seasonal and can now proceed all year round.
1970s
Industrial hand-moulding machines faithfully mimic the movements of artisanal but labour-intensive hand moulders.
1980s
Tienen management decides to close the plant. Operations continue in Lanaken. With the construction of additional drying chambers and the arrival of industrial hand-moulding machines and a fully automatic tunnel kiln, as many as 40 million bricks can now be produced every year!
1990s
Producing a high-quality end product has always been a priority. Of course, standards such as the BENOR label and the NBN EN ISO 9001 standard had to be obtained. Further investments are made and a completely new production line is built: new fully automatic hand-moulding machines, drying chambers, setting machines and tunnel kilns are commissioned. This allows the capacity to grow to as many as 120 million bricks!
2003
The year of expansion! Not just to neighbouring countries, but beyond!
2005
Construction of new drying chambers...
2006
... and the commissioning of the 4th fully automatic tunnel kiln to increase output to 160 million bricks.
2008
With the launch of the Iso-Façade system, Nelissen is diversifying to respond to the growing demand in the renovation market and the trend to apply new and energy-saving construction techniques in the new construction market.
2013
The growing demand for stone strips drives expansion of the Creative Ceramics Department (CCD). The operation is expanded with a new factory hall with industrial sawing machines.
2014
Nelissen Bricks remains a true family business and thus an important employer in the region. Cousins Carlos Jorissen, Burt Nelissen, and Joeri Gevers take over, children of the 4th generation. Exports are ramped up as well: Nelissen bricks find their way all-over the world to Scandinavia, Russia, the Middle East, Japan, etc.
2015-2017
The N70, a beautiful and exclusive brick, is introduced to supplement the classic brick size. The 10th drying chamber is built, boosting capacity to 165 million bricks a year.
2018-2019
In addition to investments in production, efforts are also focused on increasing efficiency through the modernisation of hand-moulding machines and drying chambers, as well as the adaptation and renovation of kilns and packaging machines. The new, state-of-the-art office complex where we welcome our visitors today is inaugurated. This allows us to take a whopping 180 million bricks to market every year!
2020
Production ramps up to a capacity of 185 million bricks per year.
2021
Nelissen Bricks celebrates its 100th anniversary.