The merger of Alumac, Astemac and ANG forms a new foundation for the next generation of leaders to build on.
All three companies have been active in the same market for more than three decades, both as competitors and as partners. According to Stefaan Crombez, who will lead the new group as CEO, the merger really began when Alumac and ANG worked together to develop the New Generation Hardox soil bucket for its 20th anniversary in 2024. “We noticed then how well our competencies and business practices aligned. From there, the idea grew to continue working together on a structural basis.”
The vision now includes Alumec, Astemac and ANG’s long-term futures, too, with the next generation actively involved in shaping the new group in the coming years. “We won’t be starting from a blank slate,” stresses Imaan Crombez (Stefaan’s daughter, who has taken on increasing responsibilities at the company in recent years, alongside her husband, Roy Algoet).
Over the past thirty years, Alumac has built a strong position in the construction and outfitting of trucks and vans, custom work, cranes and container systems. Its sister company, Astemac, is known for its range of containers and has invested heavily in its own facilities for blasting, metallising, laser cutting and spray painting.
At ANG, an established name in the field of containers and known for high-quality bodywork, brothers Louis and Guillaume Vander Stichele have also been building on their father Christophe’s legacy for some time now. “Growing up in a family business means you quickly realise that entrepreneurship is about more than just numbers. You see how much time, energy and conviction goes into it, and how much a business can mean to someone,” shares Louis, explaining that he has a lot of respect for what his father has built at ANG, together with its people…
“I have the same respect for what Stefaan Crombez and Sandrien Carette have achieved with Alumac. Both companies were created with hard work and perseverance. Continuing that story is a serious responsibility that we, as the next generation, take up with great enthusiasm and conviction,” he adds. “Together with my brother, Guillaume, Imaani and her partner, Roy, I look forward to building on this and creating new opportunities for our customers, employees and group.”
Imaani echoes Louis’ sentiments:
“We each have our own expertise, specialists and way of working. Now it is a matter of bringing the best of those worlds together.”
She elaborates that, where possible, the companies are already integrating. Over time, their activities will increasingly function as one under the Alumac group.
Christophe, who will carry on sharing his experience and knowledge from the background, agrees. “Together, we gain more clout to continue growing and offer our customers something that few players in the market can today,” he notes, assuring ANG stakeholders that its personal approach, existing locations, teams and trusted customer contacts will all be retained.
“Scale in itself is not our goal. Above all, we want to respond even more to what the market and our customers expect from us,” concludes Stefaan.
Christophe Vander Stichele and Stefaan Crombez
