Three generations of Van Dijck: what a family business concretely means for you
Three generations, one company, the same approach
The story of Joris Van Dijck begins in 1958 in Morkhoven, a sub-municipality of Herentals. There, founder Joris Van Dijck started importing CESAB forklifts, as the very first dealer outside of Italy.
Much has changed since then. The machines became more powerful, more electric, and smarter. Our range expanded. In 2012, Hangcha was added as a second house brand, for which we are now the official distributor for Belgium. A second location in Genk was opened, JVD Parts was launched, and the entire customer service was digitized. And recently, we also added Still to our offering.
But one thing remained the same: a Van Dijck at the helm.
First generation
1958 Joris Van Dijck, founder
Second generation
1984 Chris Van Dijck, son of Joris
Third generation
2021 Jo Van Dijck, son of Chris
Three generations, each with its own accent. Joris laid the foundations with CESAB as the first brand. Chris added second-hand and rental, and expanded JVD Trading. Jo focuses strongly on innovation today: the branch in Genk, JVD Parts, the electrification of the range, and recently the addition of Still.
What connects them? The same approach. The same focus on service. The same people who work with them year after year.
Why family businesses do things differently
In Flanders, 7 out of 10 companies are family businesses. Together, they account for more than half of the added value and employment in our region.
That is no coincidence. Research shows that family businesses perform better on average than comparable non-family businesses. Not because they perform magic, but because they think fundamentally differently:
✅ They decide in generations, not in quarters
✅ They invest in long-term relationships, not in short-term turnover
✅ They take personal responsibility, because their name is on the facade
✅ They keep lines of communication short, because the boss is still walking around here today
And that is exactly what our customers have been experiencing with us for years.
💪 What our family approach means concretely for you
1️⃣ A fixed point of contact who knows your company
With us, you always work with people who know your file. The technician who visited last month is often the same one who will be there again next month. The commercial employee who prepared your quote knows which machines are in use at your company.
You don't have to repeat your story with every contact.
2️⃣ Decisions are made quickly
Do you need a device for tomorrow morning? Are you asking for a special version? Do you want to adjust a quote because your situation has changed?
We don't have to call an international head office to discuss that first. The decision-makers work here. Often literally in the workshop or the showroom next to your file.
3️⃣ We do what we promise
Hollow promises are fatal for a family business. Our name is on the facade and on the service vehicle that visits you. A dissatisfied customer is something personal, and something we also want to set right personally.
Chris once summed it up like this:
"In our region, we have grown into a known and reliable partner for both large companies and SMEs. We owe that primarily to the constant focus on service and quality. These are not hollow words, but a commitment that we work on every day with our entire team. Our machines are crucial for continuity at our customers, and then they must be able to fall back on an experienced partner who does what he promises."
That promise translates, among other things, into our Full Service Maintenance Contract, with which we completely unburden our customers.
4️⃣ We think in years, not in quarters
We don't want to sell a forklift just once. We want you to still knock on our door in five years for your next device, your maintenance, your second-hand machine, or an emergency repair.
Therefore, we often advise carefully: rather a machine that fits than an expensive one that is excessive. Rather a good maintenance contract than an expensive repair later.
5️⃣ Our people stay
In a family business, you don't work for numbers, but for people. That's why many of our technicians and commercial employees have had years of experience with us. They know your warehouse, your fleet, and your way of working.
No new faces every month. No unknown colleague who has to take a quick look at your file. Instead, people who were already there when your previous forklift was still new.
🏠 Two locations, one family approach
With our branches in Herentals and Genk, we are close to our customers in the Kempen, Antwerp, Limburg, and Flemish Brabant. No long travel times for an intervention, no unknown technicians stepping into your warehouse for the first time.
And yet we are large enough to have everything in-house: own technicians, own workshops, own mobile workshops, and an own parts service via JVD Parts.
A family business without amateurism, then. Small enough to remain personal, large enough to be professional.
So what do you get at Joris Van Dijck?
✅ A fixed point of contact that knows your company
✅ Fast decisions without long procedures
✅ Own technicians in mobile workshops
✅ Honest advice, even if it means we don't have to sell you a new forklift
✅ A partner for the long term, not for one transaction
✅ A team that keeps innovating, from electrification to new brands in the offering
Or as Jo puts it himself:
"Visitors don't just get a tour, they also really feel the atmosphere of our company. From the workshop to the showroom: everyone can see how we keep customers moving every day."
👋 Just come by
One of the advantages of a family business? You can just walk in.
Whether you want advice about a new machine, have questions about maintenance, or just want to get to know the team: you are welcome in our showroom or workshop.
📍 Herentals | Genk
📞 Feel free to call us: 014 23 11 10
📩 Mail to info@jorisvandijck.be
💡 Discover more about our story at www.jorisvandijck.be/over-joris-van-dijck