| 1980 |
Marc Rottiers initiates a small rope production site in the village of Ruisbroek (B) in the "Klein-Brabant" area in the province of Antwerp. In the late eighties the company gets more and more involved in production of rope based components for play equipment. |
| 1990 |
The small independent company established by Marc Rottiers is adopting the name KBT (Klein-Brabantse touwslagerij) and is concentrating on play equipment accessories. |
| 1994 |
KBT is moving to Sint-Amands and installs a 1700 m2 warehouse and production site in the new industrial area. Main markets are the Benelux countries. |
| 1995 |
KBT is importing its first containers of playground equipment accessories from China. The supplier of these products is CDM (company owned by Chris De Mey) who has initiated the production of these items in China. The range of products is evolving into other than rope items. |
| 1997 |
KBT starts the production of HDPE slides in Leeuwarden (NL) in a joint venture company. |
| 2000 |
KBT is acquired by Chris De Mey through a joint buyout of the KBT shares by CDM and Fortis private Equity. KBT becomes part of the group of CDM companies with strong production base in the Far East and well established contacts in the industry in Europe. The company is moving into new markets in Europe and expands the range of products rapidly. |
| 2002 |
A second 1500 m2 warehouse annex office building is constructed opposite the existing one in Sint-Amands. Meanwhile the company is increasing its workforce and turnover by about 20 % each year. |
| 2003 |
KBT parent company CDM sets up its first joint venture company in China. |
| 2004 |
KBT Polska sales office is established for the Eastern European market.
KBT wins the "Export Vlaanderen" Export Award for the province of Antwerp for its achievements in export sales. 85 % of the companies' production is now exported. |
| 2006 |
KBT Australia starts up as a joint venture with a local partner.
A third 1700 m2 warehouse and main office building is established in Sint-Amands (B).
Together with the rented warehouses the total storage capacity amounts to 10.000 m2.
KBT is now active in 35 countries all over Europe and further abroad. |
| 2007 |
KBT parent company CDM starts a second joint venture company for production of play equipment accessories in China on a 10.000 m2 site in Zhejiang province.
At the same time a CDM sales office starts its activities in Hong Kong.
Chris De Mey buys out the Fortis PE shares in CDM and becomes the sole shareholder of the group. |
| 2008 |
KBT opens a sales office in Argentina for the South American market. |
| 2009 |
CDM establishes a joint venture company in Uruguay.
KBT Polska establishes a warehouse in Poland for local distribution. |
| 2010 |
KBT Belgium discontinues production in Sint-Amands and moves it to Poland, to its subsidiary KBT Polska in Piaseczno, near Warsaw.
Ningbo Best Swing company, sister company of KBT, opens a 15.000 m2 brand new state of the art factory in Ninghai (Zheijiang) in China.
CDM Far East in Hong Kong is developing the FOB business with shipments directly from mainland China to worldwide group subsidiaries and third parties. |
| 2011 |
A new company Increase bvba is established within the group. Increase is a sister company of KBT and will develop service activities in the field of product development, consulting on standards and certification and playground equipment related services.
Restructuring of the CDM and KBT group and its companies is finalized. All subsidiaries are now directly positioned under ARAMO bvba, the top holding of the group. |