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We‘re Growing,
The Burke Porter Group has paved the way for innovation in automotive and heavy-duty equipment for over 60 years. Our relentless commitment in improving intelligent machinery puts our customers at the cutting edge of what’s possible.
We continue to transform and expand our global capabilities to serve our customers better, more thoroughly and more closely than ever before.
History
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1953
The Burke E. Porter Machinery Company (BEP) was founded in 1953 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. From the beginning BEP focused on high quality, high durability machinery. The first machine produced was a sanding machine for the wood furniture industry (1953). By 1955 BEP entered the automotive industry by producing auto-rollers to test vehicles. By 1956 BEP started custom machinery production serving the growing foam board processing market.
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1955
BEP enters the automotive industry for the first time by producing auto-rollers to test vehicles.
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1956
BEP starts producing custom machinery to serve customers in the growing foam board processing market.
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Early 1970's
Wheel alignment machine, 1967
Hydraulic R&B Tester, 1970
BEP Production Sawing, 1970
BEP was producing large scale foam processing lines, vehicle brake testing equipment and vehicle wheel alignment machines. From now on, the focus moved to automotive test systems.
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1977
Dynamic Toe Setting, 1977
Forklift Truck Tester, 1982
Clutch Evaluation Test, 1984
BEP starts exporting the automotive test machinery globally.
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1987
BEP Headquarters Grand Rapids, USA
BEP starts to expand aggressively.
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1988
First Korean projects
BEP enters the Korean automotive market.
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1989
First European projects
BEP enters the European automotive market.
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1990
Logo Frabricom
Start of the cooperation of BEP with Fabricom in Bruges, Belgium.
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1994
Electric Roll and Brake Tester
BEP developed the first new-era roll and brake testing machine, integrating AC motor technology. This facilitated End Of Line testing of on-board computer systems through newly accepted OBDII communication protocols while simulating driving conditions.
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1995
Motorcycle Dynamometer
Heavy Duty Inline Truck Dyno
First Chinese projects
BEP introduces new dynamometer products conform US EPA standards (2WD, 4WD, motorcycle, NVH, Powertrain, Heavy Duty Trucks, …)
BEP enters the Chinese market.
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1997
BEP Europe GmbH
Foundation of BEP Europe GmbH in Laatzen, Germany.
Opening of the South American office in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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2002
First Indian Projects
BEP moves into the Indian automotive market.
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2003
BEP manufacturing facility in Wuxi
Foundation of BEP’s Chinese manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China.
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Early 2000's
Robotic Tyre Mounter
BEP continues to expand and
Enters the wheel and tire assembly business
Triples the manufacturing space in Wuxi, China
Starts offering Global Contract Manufacturing to other machinery and mechanism providers
Enters the wind turbine Dynamometer Testing
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2009
Logo E-Rational
Foundation of E-Rational, the green energy division of BEP Europe in Bruges, Belgium.
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2010
XL Machine Company, USA
BEP acquires X-L Machine Company in Three Rivers, USA (MI).
BEP acquires Geo Kingsbury powertrain business in Gosport, UK.
E-Rational develops the first ORC machines in Belgium.
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2011
First high temperature ORC in Ostend, Belgium
E-Rational installs its first high temperature ORC on industrial waste heat (low pressure excess steam in a chemical plant, Proviron) in Ostend, Belgium.
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2013
First ORC in Germany (Oerlinghausen)
First ORC in Norway (Mosjoen), 2013
First E-Rational low temperature ORCs installed in German and Norwegian district heating networks.
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2014
First ORC for Japan (Ibusuki), 2014
Geothermal Heat Ibusuki , Japan
E-Rational enters the Japanese market for geothermal applications
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2015
Universal Balancing, UK
Cimat Balancing, Poland
Epic, USA
First ORC in UK (Penrith)
BEP acquires Universal Balancing (Bristol, UK) and CIMAT (Bydgoszcz, Poland) balancing companies.
BEP acquires Epic Equipment & Engineering in Shelby Township, USA (MI).
First E-Rational ORCs installed in UK (electricity production combined with wood drying).
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2016 -
First ORC in France (Strasbourg)
First ORC for Romania (Cluj)
ORC sold to LSIS for Korea
First E-Rational ORC in France (cooling of an industrial waste incinerator in Strasbourg).
First E-Rational ORC with direct condenser installed in a wood factory in Cluj, Romania.
E-Rational builds the first high temperature ORC for the Korean Market.
E-Rational delivers its 20th ORC installation.
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