| 1970 |
Founding of the “Carrosseriefabriek Berkhof” by Arthur
Berkhof and his son Henk with 10 employees in a factory of 1,000
m2 over a area of 4,000 m2. During the first 1.5 years the company
only carried out bus repairs. |
| 1982 |
Arthur Berkhof dies. Number of employees: 80. |
| 1985 |
The operation moves to an brand new factory of 10,000 m2 over an
area of 41,000 m2 in Valkenswaard. Number of employees: 132. |
| 1989 |
Expansion of the factory in Valkenswaard with an additional 10,000
m2 resulting in a production facility totalling 20,000 m2 with a
capacity of 350 units a year. Number of employees: 300. |
|
Acquisition of Hainje in Heerenveen, nowadays known as VDL Berkhof
Heerenveen, a manufacturer of buses with a total sales of 120 buses
per year and 180 employees.
|
|
Acquisition of the metalwork factory Postma in Heerenveen, a supplier
to Hainje with 15 employees. |
| 1991 |
Acquisition of Denolf & Depla in Roeselare, Belgium a manufacturer
of minibuses with 15 employees. |
| 1992 |
Acquisition of Kusters Venlo, a company specialised in conversions
of minibuses with 55 employees. |
|
The total number of employees of the Berkhof Groep is 700. |
| 1993 |
A new building for Denolf & Depla |
| 1994 |
Acquisition of Jonckheere Bus & Coach in Roeselare, Belgium,
a bus and coach manufacturer with a total sales of 400 units per
year and 500 employees.
A new building for Kusters Venlo. |
|
The total staff number of employees of the Berkhof Groep is 1,200. |
| |
Henk Berkhof dies at the age of 52 years. |
| 1997 |
Change of company name from ‘Berkhof Groep’ into ‘Berkhof
Jonckheere Groep’ |
| 1998 |
Acquisition of the Berkhof Jonckheere Groep by the VDL Groep |
|
Change of name of the company in Valkenswaard into ‘Berkhof
Valkenswaard’. |
| 1999 |
Participation (52%) of the VDL Groep in APTS, an operational company
that has been founded for the development, production and sales of
Advanced Public Transport Systems. |
| 2000 |
Actual liquidation of the Berkhof Jonckheere Groep. All operational
companies report directly to the VDL Groep. |
| 2003 |
Change of company name from “Berkhof Valkenswaard” into “VDL
Berkhof Valkenswaard”. |
