History

Since 1924, Finis Foodprocessing Equipment B.V. has been one of the major players in machinery construction for the food processing industry. It was the ambition of Aloisius van Raaij (known as Alois) to amaze the industry with a fresh take on technology with the right fast service.

Now, 90 years and 3 generations down the line, this family business still has the same drive to support its customers. With an ambition from the past, the generation of today, and solutions for the future, the whole team provides cutting edge solutions so that its customers can stand out in the current market.

As a pub owner in the industrial village of Ulft, Aloisius van Raaij dreamt of learning more about the vegetable and meat processing industry. In 1917, he began a business dealing in tools and equipment for the butchery sector. The company was christened Technisch Bureau Finis.

Aloisius’ machines sold well, but he found it difficult to accept that he was unable to sufficiently support his clients in resolving technical issues or providing maintenance. In 1924, the first bricks of Aloisius’ own factory were laid and upon completion, it was 500 square metres in size and housed a number of machine tools. Now, the fabrication of the FINIS machines could begin and the appropriate service could be provided.

The first extension was constructed in 1928, and was followed by a second in 1931 and a third in 1933. During the Second World War, it became increasingly difficult to do cross-border business. As a result, Finis opened a second factory just over the Dutch-German border.

In 1947, Aloisius retired and his sons, Albert and Bernard, took on the management of the in total 14,000 square meter Finis factories, 300 members of staff and a formula that put service first.

The sons observed the increasing general prosperity and the appearance of luxury products on the market. As a result, the vegetable processing industry was growing and Albert and Bernard decided to meet its increasing demand by developing larger machines.

It was also a period of new markets. As pioneers, in the 1950s the brothers received permission from Khrushchev’s USSR to export their solutions to the Soviet Union for both the army as well as other government bodies.