The André Emsens, Voortman, de Cartier de Marchienne and Van der Rest families: Pillars of Belgian industry
The Emsens family
The Emsens family is a major player in the Belgian industrial sector thanks to its majority shareholding in the Etex groupa specialist in building materials, and SCR-Sibelcoa separate company in the mining sector. The company's industrial heritage dates back to Alphonse Emsenswhich obtained the Belgian license for a durable, insulating and economical construction technology. This innovation was the foundation of the family's prosperity, even if the carcinogenic properties of the asbestos used later proved tragic, leading to major legal consequences for Etex. The Emsens family is one of the richest in Wallonia, with over 2 billion euros.
In 1997, Etex stopped manufacturing asbestos-containing products and diversified its activities. The strategic transformation continued with the acquisition of the gypsum operations of the French Lafarge group. This pivot was further consolidated by the purchase of a minority stake in Lafarge's gypsum operations in Latin America and Europe.
To maintain neutral management, no member of the Emsens family cannot hold any operational position within Etex. However, the family remains closely involved in the company's governance, with five representatives on the Board of Directors, including the ex-Chairman Jean-Louis de Cartier de Marchienne.
AliaxisAliaxis, a separate entity created from the spin-off of Etex in 2003, focuses on the manufacture of plastic materials for drainage and sanitary systems in the construction industry. With a significant economic footprint, Aliaxis recently orchestrated a hostile takeover bid for Uponor, a Finnish competitor, strengthening its position on the international market.
Family representatives in all companies maintain a strict separation between ownership and management. This strategy of detachment ensures continuity in entrepreneurial leadership while retaining substantial influence in their companies' strategic decisions.
Visit family business network extends far beyond the Brussels headquarters, reaching a global scale. With an upward trend in the value of their companies, the Emsens, with two hundred rich descendants, continue to shape the Belgian and international industrial sector, combining managerial prudence with a significant presence on the economic scene and with a strong sense of responsibility. fortune estimated at over 2.8 billion euros!
