As of 1 January 2026, the position of managing director at the Belgian company Arburg N.V., based in Molenstede, is taken over by Ben Mechelmans. At the age of 25, he brings a new perspective, a focus on innovation and digitalisation to the organisation, while continuing the company’s existing development directions on the Belgian market. This change also means that the previous managing director, Gerrit Hazeleger, will once again concentrate exclusively on the activities of Arburg BV in the Netherlands.
Ben Mechelmans has been associated with Arburg Belgium since July 2023. Until April 2024, he worked in internal sales, and then until the end of 2025 in external sales. During this period, he quickly gained extensive knowledge of the market and Arburg’s solution portfolio and developed an effective sales approach, which translated into measurable results and formed the basis for entrusting him with the role of managing director of the Belgian subsidiary.
Technical background and marketing experience
The new director of Arburg N.V. completed a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Leuven, the oldest university in Belgium. As he emphasises, his profile combines technical competences with knowledge in the field of market communication: "In addition to a solid technical background, I also have practical experience in the areas of marketing and digital communication".
Ben Mechelmans’ induction programme included several weeks of training at the German headquarters in Lossburg, as well as targeted sales training involving local employees. "With this broad knowledge, I feel well prepared for my new role" states Mechelmans. The combination of engineering background, familiarity with digital tools and sales practice is intended to support the further development of Arburg’s offering on the plastics processing market in Belgium.
Market challenges and the role of the team
Arburg currently employs seven people in Belgium. The new managing director emphasises the importance of the experience of his team and the support received by the subsidiary from Lossburg. He describes the current economic situation in Belgium as demanding, which affects expectations towards technology suppliers for the plastics processing industry.
"General political and economic factors are creating a difficult environment for many of our Belgian customers. As a result, they are under increasing pressure to further optimise the efficiency, reliability and flexibility of their production processes. We provide our expertise and full support to find exactly the right solution for each customer and bring even more productivity to the machine hall. Depending on requirements, this may take the form of an injection moulding machine, a fully automated turnkey system or smart digital solutions and services" explains Mechelmans.
Taking into account the growing demands regarding competitiveness, supply reliability and energy costs, particular importance is attached to projects involving the automation of injection moulding cells, integration of peripheral systems and the use of digital tools for monitoring and optimising machine operation.
Arburg’s position on the Belgian market
Arburg is one of the leading suppliers of injection moulding machines in Belgium. The company has an established brand and a reputation as a provider of solutions distinguished by reliability, service and a focus on technological development. Customers on the Belgian market show strong interest in future-oriented solutions, particularly in the areas of automation, turnkey production lines and process digitalisation.
Mechelmans identifies the medical and packaging segments as the most important growth areas. In these industries, process stability, repeatable part quality, the possibility of full automation and the integration of inspection functions in the production line are of particular importance. The new managing director also points to the role of the standard electric machine offering in strengthening the subsidiary’s market position.
"My main aim is to further strengthen our local market position by providing tailor-made solutions across the entire value chain. In addition, with the new electric Allrounders Trend, we are very well prepared to operate in the standard machine segment" stresses Mechelmans. As he notes, Arburg’s future development in Belgium will result from a combination of innovation and consistent continuation of the existing customer service strategy.
In practice, this means further expansion of the offering in the field of automated production cells, turnkey solutions integrating injection moulding machines with peripheral equipment, as well as consulting and service related to the digitalisation of processing operations. Combined with local presence and technical support, this is intended to enable Belgian plastics processors to increase productivity and adapt to changing market conditions.
Ben Mechelmans, managing director of Arburg N.V. in Belgium since 1 January 2026
