Carl Bouckaert

Carl Bouckaert, born 19 April 1954, is a Belgian equestrian and businessman. At the 2012 Summer Olympics he competed in the Individual eventing.^[1]

He also competed in the Belgian Olympic team during the Sydney Olympics in 2000.^[2]

A native of Belgium, Carl Bouckaert studied engineering at Louvain University. In 1977 he began working at Beaulieu Group of Companies in Belgium.

In 1978 Carl moved to the USA and co-founded Beaulieu of America in Dalton, Georgia. Under his leadership, this small rug weaving operation has grown into the world’s third largest (and largest privately held) carpet manufacturer.

In 1980 Beaulieu Canada, a weaving mill in Stratford, was established.

In 1981, the Memofil polypropylene extrusion plant was started in Dalton. Beaulieu was the first carpet company to start making its own polypropylene yarns. That was in fact the beginning of the backward integration strategy of the carpet industry.

In 1984 Beaulieu expanded into tufting with Beaulieu Carpets and Dimension Carpet in Chatsworth, Georgia, today known as Beaulieu Commercial.

In 1985 Beaulieu was the first carpet company to introduce polypropylene berber carpet, a category that became hugely successful in the next several years.

In 1987 and 1988 Fiber operations were expanded through a new plant Bridgeport, Alabama facility. The indoor/outdoor carpet manufacturer Conquest Carpet Mills was also acquired, which doubled the size of the company. During the same time, Beaulieu entered into a joint venture, to create the polypropylene chip manufacturing facility "Epsilon" in Marcus Hook, PA. Beaulieu was the first carpet company to make its own nylon chips and nylon BCF yarn (both white and solution dyed), another step toward the vertical integration of the industry. It was also the first carpet company to manufacture its own primary and secondary backing.

In 1989 Interloom was acquired.

In 1990 and 1991 Beaulieu continued its vertical integration with the addition of yet another new facility in Bridgeport, Alabama for the extrusion of polypropylene stable fiber, slit film, and weaving of primary and secondary backing. Coronet Industries was purchased, again doubling the size of the company. And Murray Fabrics was founded, a manufacturer of needlepunch carpet and wallcoverings.

In 1992 Grass More, producer of artificial turf, was acquired.

In 1993 The Bouckaerts acquired D&W Carpet & Rug Company in Chatsworth, Georgia. In blending D&W with Grass More and Murray Fabrics, United Carpet Mills emerged.

In response to growing demands, in 1994 Beaulieu Fibers, a world-class polymerization and nylon extrusion facility opened in Aiken, SC. That same year, South Richmond Chemicals was created to manufacture caprolactam, the key raw material in nylon.

In 1995 Sterling Carpet Mills in Australia was acquired, thus creating Beaulieu Australia.

In 1996 Coronet and Beaulieu United are merged into Beaulieu of America. During the same time, a local representative office was established in Shanghai, China.

In 1997 Princeton Rugs and American Polycraft were acquired.

In 1998 Columbus Carpet Mills and Marglen Industries were acquired. The purchase of Peerless Carpet Corporation in Canada secured Beaulieu Canada’s position as the largest manufacturer of carpet in Canada.

In 1999 L.D. Brinkman was purchased. Also Beaulieu do Brazil was established in a joint venture with Beaulieu International.

In 2003, in an ever-changing economy, Brinkman was sold back in a management-led buyout.

Since 2004, Beaulieu of America has right-sized itself in a difficult economy, and shrinking carpet market.

Bouckaert is also an avid horseman, who has attained world-class standing in the equestrian arena.

1998 A Belgian team member at the World Equestrian Games in Pratoni Del Vivaro, Italy. 2000 A Belgian team member at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia. 2006 A Belgian team member at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany. 2012 A Belgian team member at the Olympic Games in London, England.^[3][4][5]

He is also the owner of Bouckaert Farm, where TomorrowWorld was organised in 2013, which is Tomorrowland's (The world's biggest electronic dance festival) little sister.^[6][7]

References