History
Trade in building materials
Geeraard Olivier and Maria Decruy established a trade in building materials in Rumbeke. Previously Geeraard was a general contractor together with his brother and brother-in-law.
Own garage
The trade in building materials was expanded to construction works. Numerous machines and trucks were bought. There was a need for an own garage for maintenance and repairs.
The children of Geeraard and Maria
Geeraard and Maria had three children Odetta , Eric and Willy.
Frans Vankeirsbilck and Odetta Olivier
In 1959 Frans Vankeirsbilck married Odetta Olivier and entered the business. They further expanded the trade in building materials together with all kinds of construction work.
Frans and Odetta had three sons Gerdi, Tonny and Filip.
New grounds were obtained for the storage of building materials. At the end of the sixties the offices moved to the new site at Izegemsestraat 84.
Olivier Construct and Olivier Stortbeton
Eric started in 1970 with Olivier concrete and Willy took over the road and earthworks activity which later became Olivier Construct.
Olivier foundation techniques
In 1979 Gerdi Vankeirsbilck started working in the company. He became responsible for the foundation works, including the installation of rainwater tanks and the maintenance of the machinery.
Olivier Building materials and WVT
Tonny ran the trade in building materials.
In 1980 the company De Bever was taken over. This tile business became the WVT which was run by Filip.
In 1982 Gerdi Vankeirsbilck married Fernande Vandenberghe and they had 2 sons, Dimitry and Yoeri.
Takeover of the Leenknecht company
In 1987 Gerdi Vankeirsbilck took over the Leenknecht company, a concrete manufacturer of prefabricated rainwater tanks and septic tanks. Olivier Betonfabriek en Funderingstechnieken was born. Because of lack of space for all activities, this department moved from the Izegemsestraat to a new location in the Schaapbruggestraat. This site offered the opportunity for further expansion and growth.
The concrete factory expanded its range with prefabricated cellars, lubrication pits, purification pits, fuel tanks and rainwater tanks. Various wells were patented and the workshop was responsible for the construction of the casting moulds provided for this purpose.
Mechanical engineering
Due to the demand for larger and heavier concrete elements, the equipment also had to be adapted and the workshop focused on converting existing excavators in order to be able to carry out these works easily. For example, excavators were converted with a telescopic undercarriage and extendable counterweight.
Olivier pile
In 1996 a first patent was obtained for the soil displacement pile foundations. This was a breakthrough for the foundation techniques.
Machine 84
A first machine was built entirely in its own workshop, as well as attachments such as drill pipes and auger heads. The construction workshop had grown along with the company. Conversion and adaptation of the machines for all kinds of specific applications in the foundation world.
Strong growth
Due to the strong growth there was a need to separate the various activities into a different companies.
Dimitry Vankeirsbilck started in the company. Within the company he focused on the operation and training of all specialized foundation machines.
Three new companies
Olivier Betonfabriek NV
Production and installation of prefabricated tanks
Olivier Funderingstechnieken NV
Foundation piles and shoring techniques
Olivier NV
Mechanical engineering, maintenance and repairs
CRH
The Irish company CRH took over the Concrete Factory Olivier Betonfabriek NV. Maintenance and repairs were further carried out by Olivier.
Willemen
The company Willemen from Mechelen took over the foundation techniques department Olivier Funderingstechnieken NV.
Olivier continues to develop and manufacture drilling tools. This is expanded by Gerdi and Dimitry who shared their passion for mechanics, engineering and machinery.
O Beton
CRH leaves the site in the Schaapbruggestraat.
Odiel Vandenbulcke and Gerdi Vankeirsbilck both have years of experience in the concrete and construction industry and started up the company O Beton.
