AED Group
Solution provider for
AV
professionals
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History
The early days
1977
Start of Eglantier (later called AED Distribution) a small pro audio and hifi retail shop
1981
Eglantier becomes AED pvba and starts with the distribution of Beyma loudspeakers for Belgium and Luxemburg
1985
Glenn Roggeman (current AED Group CEO) started with professional dry-hire at the same location as AED Distribution
1986
The first larger quantities in sound cabinets available in dry-hire : AED Bassbins
1987
Foundation of AED Rent bvba : Rental of professional audio equipment to Sound & Light rental & production companies.
AED Rent invents the term ‘RENTAL SUPPORT’
1988
Startup of professional light equipment ad AED Rent
1991
AED Rent moves to its first independent premises : Jan Bolsstraat – Mechelen / 800m
2
1992
Switching to a larger legal entity. (from bvba to NV)
A group
1993
Penetration of the French market : startup of AED Rent France sarl.
1994
Finalizing and standardizing working methods. Optimizing and standardizing of logistics, redesigning hardware (truss & light projector dolly’s…).
Documented procedures for handling equipment to guarantee equipment condition.
AED Distribution becomes the official QSC distributor for Belgium and Luxemburg
1995
Establishment of AED Rent Netherlands.
1997
Plans for a new building with innovative design: the first 2-floor warehouse with improved and efficient workflow.
1998
AED Rent invests in 5.000m Prolyte square Truss which will become a standard in AV business.
1999
AED Rent moves its activities to the new 5.600m
2
warehouse in Willebroek.
2000
Purchase of a new warehouse in France ( Paris/Tremblay)
2001
Investment in large quantities of other brands like L Acoustic .... on demand by the market.
AED Rent starts supplying…to AV professionals only
2002
Birth of a new A group company: Cases & Cabinets (later renamend AED Cases).
Major investment in CNC machinery and a production plant for flight cases with innovative design.
Due to excellent results in Belgium, Beyma appoints AED distribution as its sole distributor for the Netherlands.
2003
Mr. Guido Vanderheijden, founder of Eglantier and AED Distribution, passes away too early. His sons Hans and Berten succeed him.
AED Rent acquisition of equipment from 3 major AV companies.
A new concept is born: Equipment Banker. This system is a balanced solution for all rental and production companies in their need for new equipment and helps the compagny to gain controle over their active and passive balance.
2004
New 1.100m
2
premises for AED Rent Netherlands New 1.800m
2
premises for AED Rent France
2005
AED Distribution becomes distributor for Lake processors.
2006
Birth of the German division. Soon, many German AV production companies will be supplied by the only neutral rental company in the AV industry :
AED Rent Germany.
2007
Start of a new A group company : AED Display. They will rent out video screens, displays and projectors to AV professionals only.
Start of construction of all the future buildings : 40.000m
2
AED Rent Belgium
AED Rent France
AED Rent Netherlands
AED Rent Germany
AED Cases, AED Store, AED Distribution
Demohall ( for equipment shoot out's, demo's and trainings )
Assembling hall (preparation of equipment to meet highest AED standards)
PE Group becomes a 49% shareholder.
2008
Organization of the One-stop-shopping formula for AV professionals
Rent
Import & Distribution
Super Market
Leasing
Cases
Repair
Due to excellent results in Belgium & Luxemburg, QSC appoints AED Distribution as its sole distributor for the Netherlands.
A group becomes a European market leader as…A total solution provider !
2009
Official opening of AED Rent Headquarters in Belgium / Willebroek : a new 20.000m
2
warehouse with 2.000m
2
offices.
Introduction of the new AED Store.business concept : a ‘professionals only’ AV cash & carry supermarket with net pricing on the shelf.
A board of 8 technical directors(named G8) is installed.
AED Distribution moves to the new facilities in Willebroek and integrates in the A group. AED is one company again !
AED Distribution adds GLP (LED lighting equipment) to its portfolio.
2010
Penetration of the UK market with startup of AED Rent UK. A second AED Store opens in the Netherlands and a third AED Store opens in France.
AED Repair starts in Belgium as an additional service in the Total Solution package.
AED Distribution adds Verlinde, Prolyte and Stage Desks to its portfolio.
2011
A fourth AED store opens in the UK. AED Distribution adds other major brand to its portfolio: Robert Juliat, Manfrotto, Avolites, GDS and a few more to come.
Acquisition of all the equipment from a major Belgian AV production company.
Besides ecology, also financial results will become more and more important for the entertainment business...
AED group makes a big step to industrialize the rent business by attracting major financial partners. This will bring the rental business to the next level.
Foundation of AED Lease. First dedicated AV industry bank offering Financial Solutions for the AV industry.
2012
Foundation of AED Second Hand. A trader platform and the ultimate place for used and Second Hand AV equipment.
To be continued...