History
Bega International e.g. was founded in 1978 by Bernard Garritsen. The name Bega is a contraction of the first two letters of Bernard Garritsen. Bega Special Tools is the trade name under which we operate. The company started with a unique puller TRACTA for the dismantling of ball bearings. This expanded into a program of high-quality tools for maintenance and production work. The bearing is central, the heart of all rotating equipment.
Bernard Garritsen’s corporate philosophy: Plan maintenance and work safely and damage-free with the right tools. We find that very common now, but at the time this was very innovative!
Ownership
1978 - Bernard Garritsen
1988 - son Frank Garritsen takes over business
1999 - Carol Garritsen-Poelma becomes co-shareholder
2012 - Henk van Essen becomes co-shareholder
2018 - September: Frank Garritsen retires and ceases all activities for Bega
2019 - January: Henk van Essen acquires 100% shares
2019 - January: Carol Poelma remains as Communications Director, CIO
2021 August: Schaeffler acquires BEGA International bv
Henk van Essen continues as Managing Director Bega Special Tools
Vice President Smart Maintenance Tools, Schaeffler Lifetime Solutions
Dennis Wildeboer
Director Operations
Carol Poelma
Director Product Management
Oliver Massa
Director Sales