Formerly, Schaeffler Smart Maintenance Tools was known as Bega International BV/ Bega Special Tools.
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 was the trade name under which we operated. 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
- 2019 - January: Henk van Essen acquires 100% shares
- 2021 - August: Schaeffler acquires BEGA International bv (Henk van Essen continues as Managing Director Bega Special Tools)
- 2022 - Bega International BV is a Schaeffler Company. As “Smart Maintenance Tools” we are part of the Schaeffler Lifetime Solutions division (formerly Industry 4.0)
- 2024 - June: Carol Poelma retires
- 2024 - Schaeffler Smart Maintenance Tools BV becomes the new company name