Our story
A history of entrepreneurship, innovation and glass
The history of Haerens dates back to the 1940s, when the family business was founded in the coal transportation industry in Ghent, Belgium, a thriving industrial city at the time. From this activity came the ambition to develop our own stove. This marked the first important step in Haerens’ evolution towards the world of stoves and fireplaces.
Building on this expertise, the company gradually developed a strong focus on heat-resistant ceramic glass. Over the following decades, Haerens grew into a leading reference in the processing and supply of ceramic glass for stove and fireplace manufacturers throughout Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxemburg.
From growth to expertise.
As one of the three business units within the Haerens Group, Charles Haerens has continued to invest in innovation, expertise and growth. Strategic acquisitions have played an important role in this development, further strengthening our technical knowledge and production capabilities.
In 2012, Haerens acquired the Spanish company Vitrotec, which specialises in the processing of technical glass. The most recent expansion within the Haerens Group’s glass processing entity took place in 2025, with the acquisition of the Belgian company GMC Meyvaert, formerly Meyvaert Glas. GMC Meyvaert specialises in the processing of laminated glass, particularly for high-end museum showcases and the balustrade market. This acquisition further expanded our expertise and enables us to offer our customers an even broader range of specialised glass solutions.
In addition to the laminated glass and heat-resistant ceramic glass that we continue to process today, Haerens has evolved over the decades into a global player in the processing of high-value technical glass, such as radiation-shielding lead glass and dielectric mirror glass.
Today, Haerens supplies a wide range of glass products worldwide for various markets, including the stove and fireplace industry, medical radiation protection, the museum sector, the balustrade market and other industrial sectors.
Ready for the future
From our two European locations, we combine decades of experience with a high level of technical expertise. Our recent relocation therefore meant more than simply moving to a new site: we invested in a completely new production hall and a state-of-the-art machinery park, enabling us to serve our customers with greater speed, precision and flexibility.
Our ambition for the future is clear: to continue growing sustainably, guided by our core values: fast and personal service, outstanding quality, and a commitment to working closely with our customers to find the most suitable solution together.
