History

MATEXPO is a giant among trade shows. With 40 editions behind it to date, few exhibitions have a history as rich and varied as MATEXPO. This also means that the show has had to live through some difficult times in its past. Every economic crisis that has occurred since MATEXPO was first held at the end of the 1940s has had an effect on the show in one way or another. Yet there have also been a number of constants along the way: non-stop growth in supply and demand, diversification and innovation have all ensured that MATEXPO has been able to keep on expanding, show after show. That means more machines, more exhibitors and more visitors.

1946: Show first established in Harelbeke under the name of “Harelbeekse bouwbeurs” (“Harelbeke Construction Show”)
1947 to 1967: Harelbeke Construction Show (bi-annual)
1967: Construction exhibition halls in Kortrijk
1969: Relocation from Harelbeke to Kortrijk Xpo and a new name “Hout- en Bouwbeurs” (“Timber and Construction Show”)
1975: New name: International Construction Show & MATEXPO
1985: Show run under the “MATEXPO” name from this year

In 1946 a number of forward-looking contractors from Harelbeke came to the conclusion that, given all the reconstruction work going on after the war, organising a construction trade show would be a great idea. The show was a success beyond their wildest dreams, even though it was very much a regional event.

When construction of the Exhibition Halls began in 1967 in Kortrijk, the Harelbeke organisers were again quick to seize the opportunity. Their own show in Harelbeke was already bursting at the seams and the modern exhibition space in Kortrijk provided the ideal platform to stage a show where increasing numbers of construction plant and machinery could be put on display. The first edition of the show was held in Kortrijk in 1969 under the local name of “Hout- en Bouwbeurs”. The expansion capabilities offered by the new location were put to the best possible use and the show quickly grew to become a national event – so much so that even the Brussels-based equipment show, Intermat, was forced to close its doors a little later. The next milestone came in 1986 when it was decided to allow the rather locally oriented Construction Show demonstrate its true colours and devote itself fully to building equipment in the broadest sense of the word. From that time on, only the name of "MATEXPO" was used.

What began as a small regional trade show in Harelbeke, soon grew into an exhibition that has gone far beyond being regional and has taken on Belgian and European stature.

Honorary Chairman
Vereecke Edouard

Chairman
Verhelst Johan

Vice chairman
Vereecke Filip                 

CEO
Caset Peter

Directors
De Bruycker Geert     
Declerck Patrick
Dedeyne Guy
Olivier Yves
Olszewski Gregory
Sips Koen
Stadsbader Pierre
Van Haut Dries
Vochten Kris
Jan Vandeputte

Honorary members
Graaf Buysse Paul
De Waele Patrick
Desmet Luc
Despriet Bernard
Potteau Paul
Gahide Vincent
Olivier Willy
Stadsbader Jacques
Vancauwenberghe Jef
Vanderhaeghe Jean
Vervaet Jef
Rosseeuw Freddy