Deweerdt History
Founder Willy Deweerdt draws his expertise from various industries, with a focus on non-ferrous metals. To this end, he has progressed through various stages, up to Commercial Director at the largest producer of aluminium...
The Story of Deweerdt & Masterveil Europe: 1984 – 2026
1984: The Origin of a Vision
In 1984 Willy Deweerdt founded Deweerdt.
Willy drew on an impressive background: his competences were shaped by his work in various industries, with the emphasis on non-ferrous metals. He went through different stages within this sector, up to the position of commercial director at the largest producer of aluminium. This experience laid the foundation for a company that from day one was built on personal service, flexibility, language skills and in-depth know-how.
It was the beginning of a family business that specialised in the distribution of non-ferrous metals to foundries in the BENELUX and Germany and later the whole of Europe.
Operating from ISO-certified manufacturers, our attention was mainly focused on progressive foundries, which always closely follow the market in terms of price/quality and who can certainly appreciate a personal approach.
1984 – 1992: The First Step Forward
It soon became clear that Deweerdt's expertise extended beyond just metals. The team steadily expanded with specialists in various fields, not only in non-ferrous metals, but also in all kinds of niche markets.
We zagen metaal niet enkel als verkoop van ingots, maar we zorgden voor een cruciale meerwaarde door continue bijscholing bij erkende instituten in gieterijtechnieken. Dit stelde het team in staat om klanten verder te helpen in functie van analyses, probleemoplossend denken en het beschikbaar stellen van een uitgebreide database van kennis-elementen.
De verdeling van luchtgordijnen begon aarzelend als een extra activiteit, maar kreeg al snel de wind in de zeilen door de vruchtbare samenwerking met de Universiteit Gent en andere gespecialiseerde instanties. Deze samenwerking leidde tot een geavanceerde kennis in het afschermen van poorten, controle van luchtvochtigheid en het oplossen van extreme situaties. Dit was de kiem van de verdere explosieve groei van de tweede pijler van het bedrijf.
1992: Two Full-Fledged Pillars
From 1992, both competencies had definitively developed into fully-fledged pillars:
- Non-ferro metalen
- Niche techniques regarding air curtains, Airstop®, freezer door shielding, comfort solutions, humidification, dehumidification and filtration techniques.
1998 – Collaboration with Contronics
In 1998, the collaboration was started with the Dutch company Contronics. Contronics' humidification systems utilize highly advanced ultrasonic technology to create an extremely fine, dry mist.
This innovative solution ensures stable humidity without wetting products or employees. As a result, displayed products remain fresh longer, retain their weight, color, and quality, and dehydration is significantly reduced.
This intervention ensures less food waste and extends shelf life. Furthermore, thanks to low energy consumption, this technology offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for retail, cold storage, and food production.
As a certified partner, we are naturally also able to perform all maintenance to keep the lifespan of your device optimal.
2000 – 2020: Growth, Innovation and the Masterveil Era
The company grew into a European player. In addition to its own Masterveil line, Deweerdt also began distributing Contronics – a brand specializing in climate control, humidity regulation, and filtration technologies. This strengthened the existing portfolio of niche technologies.
The air curtains, which function as an "invisible door", found their way to leading clients.
Een belangrijke mijlpaal was de samenwerking met de Sligro Food Group, die ondertussen al meer dan 20 jaar duurt. Samen met Sligro en de Universiteit Gent werden de omstandigheden in en rond diepvriescellen nauwgezet geïnventariseerd. Dit leidde tot de verdere ontwikkeling van de unieke technologieën: Airstop® en Powerstream®.
- Airstop® creates efficient temperature separation with laminar airflow, particularly for refrigerated spaces.
- Powerstream® is specifically developed for freezer rooms. This system uses modules that blow from left to right, with an extra insulating layer, to minimize ice formation and energy loss.
Het bedrijf opereert onder de vlag van Masterveil Europe, met Peter Deweerdt als Managing Director en CEO, en een sterk team met veel technische capaciteiten.
Masterveil has optimized its production with advanced sheet metal working machines, making them fully flexible in realizing customer-specific solutions.
De metalen worden dan op hun beurt verdeeld door Managing Director Dirk Deweerdt, waarbij verdere samenwerkingen en globalisatie zorgen voor een heel wijd verspreid netwerk.
2021 – 2024: Recognized Market Leader and Sustainability
Masterveil's technology is widely recognized as market leader. Independent verification shows that Airstop® units are up to 70% more efficient than situations without an air curtain, and Powerstream® units achieve even 80% energy savings.
In 2024, a major project was realized for the Norwegian supermarket chain Meny in Oslo. The installation of 22 Masterveil air curtains in their new warehouse led to significant energy savings and a smaller ecological footprint.
However, the focus is not solely on energy. Masterveil actively prevents moisture infiltration, thereby combating problems such as snow, fog, and ice formation in freezer cells. This reduces cleaning costs and increases safety.
2025: International Enlargement, Transparency and the Swedish Breakthrough
2025 became a year of big steps:
- 2025 became a year of big steps: UK Partnership: Masterveil Europe signed a strategic partnership with Hultsteins, a renowned Swedish and British manufacturer of diesel-free transport refrigeration. Hultsteins became the official UK partner for the sales and service of Masterveil air curtains, thereby strengthening its position in the British market.
- Cold Chain Federation Membership: Masterveil Europe was welcomed as a new member of the Cold Chain Federation, the leading British trade association for refrigerated logistics. This underscores the company's status as a key player in the cold chain.
- Ons lidmaatschap van Be-Cold brengt ons in rechtstreeks contact met verantwoordelijken van koel- en diepvrieshuizen en hierdoor houden we steeds de vinger aan de pols en kunnen we steeds een nieuwe stap zetten naar samenwerkingen en het oplossen van problemen.
- Eerste Duurzaamheidsrapport: In een unieke stap voor een KMO publiceerden Deweerdt W. BV en Masterveil Europe hun eerste duurzaamheidsrapport (Sustainability Report). Dit rapport, opgesteld volgens de VSME-standaarden (Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standards for SMEs), toont transparant de engagementen van het familiebedrijf:
- 98-99% van de metalen die ze gebruiken is afkomstig van gerecycled materiaal.
- Hun luchtgordijnen en Powerstream®-systemen snijden direct in het energieverlies van klanten.
- Het rapport werd met hulp van "The Ecological Entrepreneur" omgevormd tot een duidelijk, eerlijk ESG-verhaal.
- Launch in Sweden: Masterveil Europe actively expanded its activities into Scandinavia. The Swedish market proved to be a natural step: a cold climate, high energy costs, and a strong focus on sustainability make Sweden an ideal region for the Airstop® and Powerstream® technologies. A fully Swedish-language website (masterveil-eu.com/sv/) was launched, featuring tailored information for the Scandinavian market.
2026: The Art of the Invisible Door – also in Sweden
In 2026 staat Masterveil Europe sterker dan ooit. Het bedrijf is uitgegroeid tot een internationale leider in hoogwaardige luchtgordijn technologie, met een rijke geschiedenis van meer dan 35 jaar.
The Swedish presence was further expanded. Masterveil now offers in Sweden:
- The Swedish presence was further expanded. Masterveil now offers customer-specific air curtains – designed and produced per customer, not from a catalogue – in Sweden:
- An innovative lease solution in collaboration with Siemens (launched late 2025), enabling Swedish companies to use air curtains without major upfront investments.
- Gratis projekthulp voor consultants – om al in de ontwerpfase de juiste luchtgordijnen te selecteren.
- Safety and health as the highest priority for field measurements and installations.
A successful reference case in Sweden is Nike, where cold floors and drafts completely disappeared after the installation of Masterveil air curtains. This resulted in a perfect working environment for the employees.
In addition, Deweerdt remains active as a distributor of Contronics – a brand that seamlessly complements the climate control and filtration technologies that make Masterveil complete.
The mission remains the same: the "Art of Invisible Doors" – the art of the invisible door. Masterveil continues to innovate, with the further development of advanced dehumidification systems and heat recovery. Whether it involves separating climate zones at Sligro in Deventer, making Meny's warehouse in Oslo energy-efficient, supporting customers in the US, or making Nike comfortable in Sweden: the core values remain intact.
- Persoonlijke service & flexibiliteit
- In-depth know-how (rooted in non-ferrous and foundry techniques)
- A power team that always goes one step further.
From a one-man business in non-ferrous metals to a European family enterprise setting the standard for energy efficiency: that is the story of Deweerdt and Masterveil Europe. We always go one step further.
Masterveil Europe – al meer dan 35 jaar de kunst van de onzichtbare deur. Actief in België, Nederland, Duitsland, het Verenigd Koninkrijk, Noorwegen en sinds 2025 ook in Zweden.
Deweerdt is tevens verdeler van Contronics, specialisten in klimaatbeheersing en filtertechnieken.
