Since 1870

In 1870 Cox Geelen was founded as an artisan smithy by Theodorus Hubertus Cox. Theo Cox was born on 18 June 1842 in Roermond.

His first works in Roermond were the large iron spiral staircase in the Munsterkerk and the iron railings around the cathedral garden.

At the end of the 19th century, Theodorus had a new house with factory built in Roermond at the so-called "Kanonnenwal". In this new factory space starts the production of pipes and elbows for stoves and cookers. Theo Cox died on 30 October 1915 after a long illness.

Primitively set up in an even more primitive time, he could not have foreseen that Cox Geelen would take such a flight.

Theodorus' sons Henricus and Karolus managed the company until 1935. After this, Henricus remained as the sole owner. His son Hubertus joined in 1935 at the age of 23 and was predestined to be the successor of the family business.

Henricus stayed in the business until 1940, but left the management to his son Hubertus. A difficult time then commenced. In 1940, Hubertus was completely on his own.

In 1943, the company ceases operations. The 30 employees, stocks and raw materials are requisitioned by the Nazis. In November, Cox Geelen is bombed and machine production is no longer possible.

A switch is made to manual labour, which is readily available and necessary at the time. This included bread trays, cake tins and other small items.

In 1945 the evacuation and at last the liberation of Roermond began, but the factory building was robbed empty. Only a stock of pipes and elbows was left. The sale of these formed the initial capital for a new start.
 

In August 1946, Cox Geelen moved to the Scharnerweg in Maastricht after taking over the Bertrams company. The first few years were difficult. The company was looking to expand production. In addition to stove products, the company launched a range of products for the building and poultry industries.

Furthermore, the company specialised in the processing of thin sheet iron. The press shop was considerably expanded. The machinery was further modernised, such as elbow machines, press brakes, winding machines, spiralite machines etc.

The introduction of natural gas in 1965 brought a major turnaround for the company. Natural gas was increasingly replacing coal and oil. The demand for aluminium roof terminals and complete flue gas systems rose enormously, and Cox Geelen was able to supply these from stock.

The plans for a new factory date back to 1964. Initially, the intention was to realise this new factory at the industrial site Beatrixhaven in Maastricht. Eventually the new building was realised at the industrial site in Eijsden. In early 1970 the ground work started and at the end of that year the complete relocation of factory, warehouses and offices was a fact.
The 100-year company anniversary was celebrated in the new modern factory.

At this location of 63,000 m² Cox Geelen has been situated to this day. There is also ample room for expansion.

The existing cooperation was reinforced by forming a strategic alliance with Bergschenhoek BV.

After a period of intensive cooperation, Cox Geelen became part of the Bergschenhoek Group in 2000. Cox Geelen's entry into the Group in 2000 was a welcome addition to their portfolio. With this accession, Bergschenhoek Groep B.V., now the 4th family, gained control of the company. Even after a third of Cox Geelen's sales had been transferred to Bergschenhoek, when all ventilation products were transferred to the Bergschenhoek Group, Cox Geelen was able to return to its previous level of turnover within two years, thereby ensuring its continuity. 

In January 2019, the German company Skoberne Gmbh became the new owner of Cox Geelen.

Skoberne acquired 100% of the shares from the Bergschenhoek Group. A well thought-out, future-oriented transaction based on close personal relationships, explained the new owner, Mrs Heike Skoberne, also CEO of Skoberne. Both companies have been working together successfully for more than 25 years and now the future growth of both companies is secured. As a result of this merger, the product lines of both companies can also be aligned even better.

Predicate By Appointment to the Court of the Netherlands. 

King Willem-Alexander has decided to grant Cox Geelen B.V. the right to bear the royal coat of arms 'By Appointment to the Court of the Netherlands' on the occasion of its 150th anniversary. On 21 May 2022, the certificate that accompanies this predicate was presented by Governor Roemer. The evening was officially inaugurated by the Mayor of Eijsden, Mr Sjraar Cox.

In 2020 Cox Geelen already existed for 150 years, but the anniversary celebration unavoidably had to be postponed and eventually took place on 21 May 2022.