1946 – Vincent BALLU invented the high-clearance tractor for vineyards
1946 – Vincent BALLU invented the high-clearance tractor for vineyards
1952 – Founding of a family business
Vincent BALLU founded the family company Tecnoma selling agricultural sprayers and high-clearance tractors.
1966 – Acquisition of VERMOREL
VERMOREL, historical leaderin ag spraying, joined the family company TECNOMA
1980 – Loss of the founder
Patrick BALLU took over his father Vincent BALLU. The family company TECNOMA made almost 12 millions euros of turnover.
1986 – New acquisitions in ag spraying
The family company acquired two new ag spraying companies : CARUELLE near Orléans (Center of France) and NICOLAS in AGEN (South of France)
1987 – The family company becomes a multi-brands group
Acquisition of french leader in agricultural & garden spraying BERTHOUD and its subdisiaries SEGUIP, THOMAS and PERRAS. The family company changed his name to EXEL to become a multi-brands group specialized in ag spraying
1989 – New acquisitions in high-clearance tractors business
Acquisition of VITITRAC and LOISEAU, two competitors in the high-clearance tractors business.
1990 – New acquisitions in ag spraying business
Acquisition of PRECICULTURE, french leader in self-propelled sprayers and high-clearance tractors.
1993 – Simplification
Simplification of legal structures of the Group, which changed its name to EXEL Industries, and owning patents and brands
1996 – Diversification
After the agriculture and gardening, EXEL Industries group acquired an industrial spraying company, KREMLIN, specialized in painting solutions
1997 – Initial Public Offering
EXEL Industries introduced Paris Stock Exchange. The turnower was about 150 M€ of which 75% in France and 25% abroad.
2000 – A world leading company
Acquisitionof the companies FISCHER and REXSON. EXEL Industries group entered the TOP 3 in industrial spraying.
2001 – New acquisitions
Acquisition of SAMES, leader of the electrostatic industrial sprayer market and MATROT Equipements, a french leader specialized in self-propelled sprayers and sugarbeet harvesters.
2003 – Merger and acquisition
KREMLIN and REXSON merged to become KREMLIN REXSON. Acquisition of HERRIAU (sugarbeet harvesters).
2006 – Acquisition in the high-clearance tractors business
Acquisition of CMC (Constructions Mécaniques Champenoises), specialized in high-clearance tractors for vineyards.
2007 – Consolidation of the world leadership
Acquisition of the danish group HARDI, a global manufacturer in agricultural spraying. Acquisition of MOREAU, french specialist of sugarbeet harvesters.
2011 – Guerric BALLU becomes the new CEO
In April 2011, Patrick BALLU let his son Guerric BALLU take the executive management of EXEL Industries group. The turnover was about 384M€ of which 50% in France and 50% abroad.
2012 – Internationalisation
Acquisition of AGRIFAC, dutch company specialized in agricultural sprayers and sugarbeet harvesters. Acquisition of the english company HOZELOCK Group, one of the major manufacturers in Europe in gardening equipments with a wide range of products in watering, spraying, technical hoses (under TRICOFLEX brand) and aquatic.
2013 – World leading company in sugarbeet harvesters
Acquisition of german company HOLMER Group, historical leader in sugarbeet harvesters market. EXEL Industries becomes the world leader in this market. EXEL Industries is organised into 4 different activities : Agricultural spraying, Sugarbeet harvesters, Garden spraying and watering and Industrial spraying. All different brands within sugarbeet harvesters business have been merged to HOLMER.
2016 – Expansion in the USA
Acquisition of ET Works group, US based company specialised in self-propelled sprayers. Sale of the company HERRIAU.
Merger of KREMLIN REXSON and SAMES Technologies to become SAMES KREMLIN Group.
2016 – New Merger
Sale of RAM Environnement. Merger of MATROT Equipements and HARDI EVRARD to become HARDI France group.
EXEL Industries turnover is about 874M€ dof which 20% in France and 80% abroad.