About us
History
In January 2000, Louis Baes started his own business, LBR, which stands for Louis Baes Repairs. Cornelis Vrolijk was his first major client. The fact that LBR has now been a fixture in the fishing industry for 25 years was celebrated earlier this year in the canteen, without any fuss or fanfare.
Louis Baes (62), with 15 years of service at Deutz, was already an experienced mechanic when he started LBR on his own. For the first few years, he worked out of his car, and his wife Sandra handled the administration. Johan de Jong became his first employee in 2003 (and still works at LBR today).
25 years of experience
The premises on the Haringhaven in IJmuiden were occupied in 2003, the courtyard was covered, and the building was tailored to LBR's needs. Strategically located is putting it mildly in LBR's case; the big work is literally right on the doorstep. The Haringhaven is the berth for the freezer trawlers of Cornelis Vrolijk and of Parlevliet & Van der Plas.
That certainly does not mean that the people at LBR only work in IJmuiden. On the contrary, LBR visits many ports all over the world. Nor does it mean that LBR's only client is the fishing industry.
Fishing has, however, always been the mainstay, and still is. "I'd say a good 60-70 percent of our activities," says Louis Baes. At the time of the visit, several freezer trawlers are moored at the quay, and work is underway in the workshop on cylinders and connecting rods of the freezer trawlers SCH 81 'Carolien' and FC 716900 'Prins Bernhard'. There is a separate workshop for injectors.
LBR Parts
LBR uses several premises in the IJmuiden port area, including for storage. In 2014, LBR spread its wings towards Harlingen, first with a rented workshop, and later, in 2016, built its own workshop, partly with the cutter fleet in mind. In 2019, LBR started a separate branch, LBR Construction, in a building a little further along the Haringhaven. It was recently closed again. "On reflection, it didn't work all that well. But if you never try anything…"
Recently, the Deutz main engines of the VLI 25 and the ARM 20 were overhauled. In the workshop, Baes shows a stripped engine block. "The old Deutz main engine from the decommissioned GO 38. Bought for the parts." LBR Parts is an important part of LBR. LBR Parts has a great many (overhauled) parts for the major engine brands in stock.