HACO Group and Jiangsu Yawei Machine Tool Co., Ltd. today officially presented their strategic industrial cooperation at EuroBLECH 2026 in Hannover.

The announcement follows the letter of intent signed earlier this year. Together, HACO and Yawei will move forward as a new Industrial Platform, combining HACO’s European engineering expertise, established brands and local market presence with Yawei’s global industrial scale, manufacturing capabilities and technology.

At the heart of the cooperation is a long-term commitment to strengthening European industrial capabilities. As part of the agreement, Yawei will become the majority shareholder.

Adding strength, not replacing it

HACO Sheet Metal and BLISSBRET Presses will retain their identities, market positioning and close relationships with customers. European engineering, automation, local service and technical expertise remain central to the strategy, alongside continued investment in European manufacturing capabilities.

At the same time, the partnership with Yawei adds greater industrial scale, manufacturing capacity and resources for technology development. This will enable HACO to accelerate innovation and offer customers a broader range of sheet metal solutions, supported by the existing local teams and dealer network.

Kurt Havegeer, CEO of HACO Group:
“This partnership gives HACO the scale and resources to accelerate what we have been building for decades, without losing what makes HACO strong.”

A stronger European industrial base

A central part of the partnership is the further development of HACO’s European operations. The HACO site in Mouscron, Belgium, will become the European headquarters and a key centre of excellence for the new Yawei–HACO Industrial Platform.

Several activities currently spread across Belgium will be brought together in Mouscron, including R&D and engineering, European management, commercial and support functions, international service, and projects in robotics and automation.

The site will also house a new international Experience Center, with showroom and demonstration facilities as well as training spaces for customers, distributors and international partners.

The development plan foresees approximately 50 jobs in an initial phase, with the potential to grow towards 120 to 150 employees by 2029. The development of production activities for selected high-value technological components in Mouscron is also being considered.

Backing Wallonia’s industrial future

“The strategic partnership between HACO and Yawei is a strong vote of confidence in Wallonia’s industrial expertise and international attractiveness. By establishing its European headquarters and centre of excellence in Mouscron, the new industrial platform will create high-quality jobs and reinforce Wallonia’s position in advanced manufacturing and international industrial cooperation,” says Michel Kempeneers, COO of Wallonia Export & Investment Agency.

Expanding production in Europe

This European investment extends beyond Mouscron. HACO and Yawei intend to further strengthen their industrial capabilities across Europe. A key role will be played by HACO’s large production site in Liptovský Mikuláš, Slovakia, where production, assembly, quality control and commissioning will take place locally.

The partnership is designed to strengthen HACO’s existing European manufacturing base, not to relocate its production to China. At the same time, the new industrial platform will combine European expertise with Yawei’s global industrial scale to offer customers a broader range of solutions.

Mr. Leng Zhi Bin, president of Yawei:
“We see HACO as a long-term strategic partner with strong brands, deep engineering expertise and an established presence in Europe. Together, we can build on that foundation and create new opportunities for customers around the world.”

Complementary expertise

HACO, based in Belgium, is an international manufacturer of sheet metal processing solutions. Together with BLISSBRET, the group also brings extensive experience in industrial press technology.

Yawei is an established Chinese manufacturer of metal-forming and sheet metal processing technology.

The new industrial platform brings together complementary capabilities across engineering, R&D, product development, manufacturing, automation, software, sales and international service.

For customers and partners, this means access to a broader technology portfolio, backed by global industrial scale and HACO’s European expertise and local market knowledge.

HACO at EuroBLECH

HACO is presenting the new industrial platform at EuroBLECH 2026 alongside a new generation of machines for bending, cutting and automated forming.

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