The French company Stolz manufactures industrial equipment for processing cereals for animal feeds and foods. Stolz is also active in the market of biofuels (bioethanol and biodiesel).

Desmet Ballestra is the world leader of the oilseeds transformation. The company has 800 employees and 400 million euros of sales turnover. It has taken a 45% stake in the French company.

De Smet & Ballestra are known as world leaders in engineering of oils & fats, oleochemical technologies, detergent and surfactant technologies and soap technologies.

In more than 40 years, De Smet & Ballestra and its 15 affiliated companies have installed more than 220 oleochemical processes worldwide.

Since early December 2004, De Smet & Ballestra are operating as one integrated group Desmet Ballestra.

Stolz said it is joining a complementary partner on the industrial side, but on the commercial side will also be able to take advantage of the worldwide presence of the Belgian group.

In three years time Stolz hopes to increase its turnover with €5 -15 million. Currently turoover is around €35 million.