Extrusion International 4-2025

40 Extrusion International 4/2025 MATERIAL HANDLING, PERIPHERY 50 Years of Partnership – An Established Connection with a Future Half a century – 50 years – of cooperation between ORA Machines and motan: What began in 1975 with initial discussions and a joint presence at the K trade fair developed into an exceptionally stable and fruitful partnership in plastics processing. A connection that was driven by technological progress, mutual trust and a common vision: to offer plastics processors reliable, efficient and innovative solutions – from material supply to finished application. The Beginnings – ORA Machines on the Way to Industry Expertise Founded in 1949 by Lambertus van Ballegooijen in Brussels, ORA Machines was created in a time of eco - nomic upheaval. The founder – a native of the Nether- lands – recognized the great potential of the emerg- ing plastics industry after the Second World War. ORA started selling machines for injection moulding tech- nology in the 1950s and quickly established itself as a recognised partner for the Belgian market. Even then, the focus was not only on the sale of ma - chines, but also on technical service – an unusual and forward-looking step for the time. Until the 1960s, ORA was mainly active in the metalworking sector, but soon shifted its focus completely to plastics pro- cessing. 1975 – The beginning of the cooperation with Colortronic In the 1970s, ORA was specifically looking for a strong partner in the field of peripherals. This search led to a decisive meeting with Colortronic in 1975 – the start of an intensive collaboration. The agreement to represent Colortronic in the Benelux laid the foundation for a long-term partnership. At the same time, Diederik van Ballegooijen – son of the company's founder – joined the company. He took over the management in 1977 and consistently expand- ed ORA's portfolio: peripheral devices, project engi - neering, training and service increasingly became the focus. In the mid-1980s, the company moved to a newly built, modern company building in Heverlee, Belgium, which is still the company's headquarters today. Picture 1: The ORA machines workforce