Innovation Needs a Daring Spirit

The story of Verder is a story that proves: Within the small lies the potential to develop into something truly great, provided that founding spirit, courage, innovative thinking and a forward-looking entrepreneurial mindset work together in the best possible way and that there is a common motivation, to which the company remains committed over the decades.

At Verder, this inner motivation is the founder family's core commitment to the development of technological innovations on one hand, and solving customer problems on the other, thus enabling the success of its customers.

Since its founding by passionate entrepreneur André Verder, this concern has been a thread running through the company's history.

Back in Time

When the company began operations more than 60 years ago as a supplier of pumps for industrial applications, it was clear to André: technology knows no boundaries in spirit, nor does it know geographical borders. Step by step, he laid the foundation for the internationalization of his company and made the bold decision, for those times, to expand into Eastern Europe. At the same time, the visionary set the course for the continuous development of the company – from a pure distributor to one of the most respected, innovative, and courageous technology producers in the world.

The typical mix of customer orientation, process understanding and know-how that André thus gave the family business as its DNA remained at the heart of Verder after his son Andries took over the company management in 2005. The group was aligned along two strategic pillars: Verder Scientific and Verder Liquids. In this way, customer focus was further improved. The product portfolio grew steadily in both business units, reaching a new level of customer awareness. In addition to sustained organic growth, the group began to expand its business activities into meaningful, strategically important areas through company formations and acquisitions. With Pindustry, Verder finally gained a third business unit, which invests with foresight in new, promising technologies for the near future.

_{Vleuten has always been the place where our headquarters are located. To celebrate both the history of the town and Verder’s 50th anniversary, André Verder in 2009 donated the artwork "Prophecies of Light Advancing Light" by David Mackaay. It represents the progress and prosperity that the development of the Leidsche Rijn area has brought to the region since its construction.}

So, to draw a bottom line: Over the years, Verder has come a long way. However, the company’s attitude, motivation and values from the early days remain constituent for every business action it takes today. And the best thing is: With so many things still to be accomplished, the Verder story has just begun.

Join Us in Taking a Trip Down Memory Lane:

The Verder Story Begins

In 1959, entrepreneur André Verder starts his business, Verder Vleuten BV, the Dutch province of Utrecht. For the first eleven years of its history, the fast-growing company focuses on Dutch business and specializes in the distribution of industrial pumps. From the early days on, Verder earns the reputation of a company with a special understanding of the technologically feasible. A company, which orients towards the customer and always strives to understanding the customers' business and processes requirements. The characteristics that have distinguished Verder to this day.

Verder Ventures Across the Border

In 1970, Verder begins to expand into the European markets. The start is made with a subsidiary in Aartselaar, Belgium. In 1973, Verder enters another core market, Germany, followed by France in 1984, Great Britain in 1992, and Italy in 2007. Also two Joint Ventures are established for the Dutch market: KNF-Verder in 1991 and Prominent-Verder in 1992. Today, Verder has offices all over Europe’s major markets. This includes Eastern Europe: Shortly after the fall of the "Iron Curtain", the group also extended its business there, with representative offices in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania.

Verder Enters New Business Segment

In 1989, Verder acquires Retsch and adds quality control and research to the portfolio. The company's founder, F. Kurt Retsch, applied for his first patent in the field of comminution technology in 1923: A mechanized mortar grinder that became a household name worldwide as the "Retsch Mill". In the following years, Verder adds particle analysis systems to the offering and founds Retsch Technology. This laboratory and analysis segment is set to develop into an important mainstay in the coming decades.

Verder Establishes Reputation as an Innovator

Market firsts, like a peristaltic hose pump that sets new standards for industrial pumping, a high-energy ball mill with temperature control options, or a particle analyzer which measures particle morphology in 3D are proof of Verder's uncompromising commitment to progress. Year after year, Verder develops and launches products based on latest technological advances - like a range of state-of-the-art pumps and analyzers with loT connectivity.

Verder expands pump manufacturing capabilities

Parallel to the Scientific acquisitions, Verder also acquired several pump manufacturing brands in order to serve the customer base even better. It started with the acquisition of MtP where several Verderair diaphragm pumps are manufactured, followed Microdos, leader in small peristaltic and solenoid pumps. After that Packo was acquired in 2015, laying the foundation for the venture into more hygienic pump applications. That effort was strengthened by the subsequent acquisition of JEC in 2018. In between also Ponndorf was added to the group to extend the range of peristaltic pumping solutions. All these efforts solidified the position of Verder Liquids as the leading pump manufacturer.

Verder Goes Global

Around the Millennium, Verder begins to expand into overseas markets to directly serve customers in further major economies. The first subsidiary outside Europe is established in Japan in 1999. From 2000 onwards, Verder is also active in the USA. Finally, in 2006, important steps are taken for the increasingly important and dynamic Asian business: A liaison office in China becomes the bridgehead for all activities in the ASEAN region. Since 2019, Verder is also present in Brazil.

A Headquarter for the Group

The rapid diversification and expansion of the preceding years leads to the establishment of a powerful umbrella organization, the Verder Croup, in 2005. Apart from steering its subsidiaries, the Group Headquarter assumes important cross-divisional tasks and services for the individual companies. In particular, it looks after the realization of synergies and has overall responsibility for group-wide strategy development and corporate governance. This overarching organization moves into new headquarters in the Netherlands at the Vleuten site.

Verder Grows Into the Scientific Segment

With the incorporation of Eltra and Carbolite in 2012, the Verder Scientific division is established, comprising the group’s activities in the laboratory and analytical segment. Further acquisitions follow: Cero in 2013, ATM in 2015, Qness in 2018 and Microtrac in 2019. The companies evolve Into today's segments of Verder Scientific: Retsch, Eltra, Carbolite Cero, Microtrac MRB and QATM. Present worldwide, with a broad portfolio in the fields of sample preparation and solids analysis.

Verder Founds Investment Arm Pindustry

In 2014, Verder founds its subsidiary Pindustry. Its mission: to support innovative startups and companies in order to accelerate the development of new technologies. In the same year, the company invests in two promising companies: Resato, which develops high-pressure cutting machines as well as high-pressure refueling systems for hydrogen vehicles, and Aerox, a manufacturer of industrial odor control solutions. In 2022 a majority stake was acquired in Valveco, a Dutch supplier of valves, actuators, pipe couplings, vent caps, flanges and services for the maritime and offshore sector.