Founder Willy Callens Turns 80
The man. The myth. The legend. Willy Callens is celebrating his 80th birthday! A young entrepreneur in the 1960s, Willy made Callens thrive through his entrepreneurial drive, hands-on attitude, and personal approach.
From small business owner to market leader
Callens was founded in 1966 by Willy Callens in Bavikhove. Back then, Willy was the go-to guy for residential heating. His craftsmanship knew no bounds. Thanks to his dedication, his customer base grew rapidly, and he took more and more colleagues under his wing to meet the growing demand.
Before long, the team also started working with industrial companies, sparking a fresh wave of ambition and challenge.
In 2003, the second generation – Annick Callens and Windy Moerman – took the helm. Today, Callens focuses exclusively on industrial heating and air technology. Two sister companies have since joined the family: Callens-Vyncke and Optimum by Callens. Together, we deliver complete peace of mind to our clients.
What Willy Callens taught us
Although many colleagues never knew Willy as CEO, they certainly know his legendary quotes:
👊 “Gif moa goaze!” (Let’s go full throttle!)
↗️ “Healthy growth is only possible when continuity comes first.”
🏆 “Any talented player can win a game, but only a strong team wins a championship.”
That last one? He still swears by it.
“I could never have come this far without my people,” Willy says proudly, still in awe of the Calliërs.
And that’s exactly why the Calliërs remain at the heart of our growth story – something Annick and Windy fiercely protect.
"Mutual respect, a warm and entrepreneurial company culture, and taking time to truly know the person behind the colleague — these are core values deeply rooted in our DNA," the CEOs affirm.