Deltrian produces 1.5 million “made in Belgium” masks per week.

April 2020. Belgium, like the rest of the world, is sinking deeper into the coronavirus epidemic. Initially snubbed by the Belgian authorities, the mouth mask becomes a key instrument in the fight against the spread of the disease. A large citizen mobilization makes it possible to compensate for the insufficiency of masks, but their effectiveness must still be optimal.

Anxious to show solidarity, a company based in Fleurus, Deltrian, specialist in air filtration for half a century, did not remain unmoved.

Deltrian launches following a call for tenders from the federal government.

14 million filters are delivered the first week of May. The distribution will be chaotic, and the Fleurus company itself makes a short video explaining how to insert the filter into the mask, under penalty of ending up in the trash of many citizens…

The real turning point for Deltrian will be another call for tenders from the Walloon Government. This time it’s full face masks. Because the Walloon leaders no longer want to depend on a globalized market for such a vital product. The company wins the contract which, initially, involves the manufacture of 5 million parts intended mainly for hospitals and AViQ.

A specific company was formed: Deltrian Protective Equipment, in which Wallonia (Sogepa and SRIW) became a 49% shareholder. To respond to the Walloon market, two production lines have been installed. Two more follow. Because in the meantime, the clientele has expanded, in particular to groups of pharmacies, educational establishments, SNCB, STIB, companies, ordinary citizens.

Everyone yearns to be rid of this virus. But does this diversification of Deltrian not risk, therefore, to be condemned?

Indeed, in addition to types 2 and 2R which filter more than 98%, and the citizen mask (more than 90%), washable 25 times and certified by Test-Achats.

Products aimed at healthcare professionals. She also negotiated an agreement with NanOx, a Wépion start-up which had the good idea of a reusable mask, very hermetic, in silicone, but had experienced setbacks for its supply of filters.

Deltrian continues to make the most of its recent diversification. A website allows you to buy masks. It has also concluded an agreement with Codibel, in Seneffe, to market hydroalcoholic gel. And its masks are available in Red Pelican distributors in 17 countries. In addition, its portable air purifiers are selling like hotcakes.

To make itself known, by betting on the label “Made in Belgium”, it has entered into a partnership with Sporting de Charleroi, and it will distribute a mask to each secondary school student, in Wallonia and in the rest of the country. It also joined the European Reservist project bringing together various companies with the aim of concocting an action plan within 24 hours against another pandemic.

Because without saying it too much, Deltrian thinks that what she has put in place may still, unfortunately, be relevant.

Deltrian is a company created in 1967, in Mont-sur-Marchienne, by the Alexius family. Since 1985, it’s Jürgen Alexius who is the CEO. Its core business is air filtration. It produces, sells, installs and maintains equipment in fields as varied as the automotive sector , biopharma, agri-food or the gas-turbines, both in Europe and elsewhere in the world. It also carries out an activity lighting, of LED lighting.

Since March, it has diversified with the production of mouth masks, which currently represents 10% of its activity. Deltrian employs 85 people at its Charleroi sites, including 25 for the production of masks. It has 14 subsidiaries, for a total employment of nearly 600 people. Three additional takeovers are announced soon.