Vescom Revives Historic Raymakers Textile Factory in Helmond
The ancient fabric of Raymakers in Helmond is being restored as the Deurnese textile company Vescom takes over the bankrupt business. The deal was finalized on Monday, ensuring that the 250-year-old Raymakers will resume operations under the new name, Vescom Velvets B.V.
For approximately half of its employees, the takeover comes as a welcome Christmas present, but for others, it signals a significant downturn. Around 47 employees are expected to keep their jobs. Vescom’s director, Philippe van Esch, expressed his satisfaction with the acquisition: "It was a close call several times, but in the end, we managed to secure the deal."
Raymakers’ last 84 employees, many of whom had been with the company for years, were understandably concerned when the manufacturer went belly-up in October. Following the company’s insolvency, there was little activity regarding Raymakers until Vescom’s takeover.
After much speculation, it was revealed that the company owned by Helmond Sport chairman Philippe van Esch had won the bid for Raymakers. The historic name of Koninklijke Nederlandse Textielfabrieken J.A. Raymakers & Co. B.V. will be replaced by the new entity, Vescom Velvets B.V.
Both the Helmond and Gemert factories will remain open under the new ownership, safeguarding the region’s industrial heritage and preserving a portion of the area’s jobs. Despite the change in management, Van Esch assured that Raymakers "will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of the people of Helmond."
Initially facing potential closure, Raymakers’ rich history dating back to 1773 will now be woven into Vescom’s future. The new owner highlighted, "This acquisition allows us to preserve the rich heritage of Raymakers while combining it with our expertise and vision at Vescom."
Specializing in velours production, Raymakers supplied fabrics to the Dutch royal household, once featuring its products during the King’s annual Troonrede address in September. Despite its prestigious status, Raymakers faced financial headwinds for some time, ultimately succumbing to a combination of a lackluster economy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and mounting energy costs.
A potential savior in the form of the Swiss company Lantal AG emerged, purchasing Raymakers and injecting fresh capital. However, this proved insufficient to save the venerable manufacturer, necessitating Vescom’s intervention to prevent the end of an era for Raymakers’ textile production.
Originally published on OMROEP Brabant
