50 Years of AAE
On April 1, 2026, AAE officially turns 50. A remarkable milestone we’re incredibly proud of as a family business.
What began in 1976 on the Middendijk in Helmond with a small team and a big dream has grown, over five decades, into an internationally recognized high‑tech partner for the medical, semiconductor, and consumer‑goods industries.
A story of building, growing, and doing it together.
Our anniversary year is built around the theme Let’s be friends with the future. The concept that connects our past, present, and future in three phases:
Embrace the Past
We honor our roots: from the first machines on the Middendijk, to the move to the Grasbeemd, and the integration of Grauel.Celebrate the Present
We celebrate who AAE is today: a group of driven people with a can‑do mindset who make the impossible possible. Together!Be Friends with the Future
We look ahead, highlighting innovations that push boundaries, sustainable initiatives, and new partnerships that will shape what comes next.
The anniversary year was festively kicked off at our New Year’s reception on January 5, where colleagues got a first taste of what lies ahead.
Throughout the year we’ll host activities that reflect our culture, pride, and future. Every moment is designed to connect, celebrate, and both look back and move forward, together.
The secret behind 50 years of success
AAE is AAE because of the people who work here. Then, now, and tomorrow. A special anniversary video will also take you on a literal and figurative journey through our history.
Our strength lies in Ambition, Can-do, Human and Together. That’s precisely why customers around the world choose to work with us, and why this anniversary is a celebration not just of an organization, but of a community.
A milestone to be proud of
With 50 years of innovation, craftsmanship, and a people‑first culture behind us, we’re proud of the journey so far. But above all, we’re excited about what lies ahead, new technologies, new possibilities, and everything we can create together.
Here’s to the future. Together.
Let’s be friends with the future.