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Cars play an important role in modern society—and they are about more than simply getting from A to B. A vehicle’s interior is equally essential to a comfortable and stylish driving experience. That is why ECA NV, based in Assenede, Belgium, produces a wide range of high-quality automotive reupholstery solutions that transform vehicle interiors and add a personalised touch. ECA is also a well-established name in the truck and interior sectors, as Managing Director Nicky Christiaen explains in the interview.

Source: European Business

European Business: Ms Christiaen, you manufacture in a small town in East Flanders, yet your customers include giants from the automotive and truck industries. It is a genuine hidden-champion success story.

Nicky Christiaen: We have established ourselves as a leading company in the development, production and installation of leather upholstery. ECA now forms a group with IMK in the UK and Berco in the Netherlands, three companies that complement each other perfectly.

European Business: But success certainly did not come overnight?

Nicky Christiaen: The company was founded by my grandfather, Paul Christiaen, in 1949 and taken over by my father, Luc Christiaen, in 2008. I represent the third generation and joined the company in 2016. I have been leading the business since 2023. The role suits me perfectly because I am highly production-oriented and interested in everything that happens within the company.

European Business: What has happened since 1949 to put you at the forefront of the market today?

Nicky Christiaen: Initially, we focused exclusively on the automotive sector, with Volvo as our largest customer. Today, ECA is the parent company of two subsidiaries, IMK and Berco, and we operate across several sectors. Berco joined us in 1977 and is the European market leader in the design, development and production of vehicle mats and truck interiors. It operates independently from its factory in Schijndel in the Netherlands.

IMK has also developed into a centre of excellence for trimming premium leather automotive interiors in the UK. It uses high-quality natural leather, technical textiles and synthetic materials to hand-trim vehicle components for leading automotive OEMs. At ECA, we focus on producing and assembling leather upholstery for cars, as well as upholstery solutions for public transport and interior applications.

European Business: Your customers are among the very best in the industry. That is highly impressive.

Nicky Christiaen: Yes, IMK supplies Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Bentley, to name just a few major brands. Here in Belgium, our customers include all the leading car manufacturers, from Audi and Ford to Volkswagen. In the seating sector—which covers the upholstery and repair of all types of seating—we supply ThyssenKrupp and Belgian Railways. Berco, meanwhile, works with DAF, Scania, Daimler and Iveco.

European Business: How closely do the three companies work together?

Nicky Christiaen: We maintain close ties with both companies and are actively and proactively involved in their operations. We are often on-site ourselves to observe the production process. Today, the group employs 900 people and generates revenue of EUR 150 million.

European Business: Let us take a closer look at your portfolio.

Nicky Christiaen: ECA’s product portfolio is divided into three areas: automotive, transport and interiors, although there is some overlap between them. Our activities primarily include cutting, sewing, embroidering, welding and assembling materials such as leather, vinyl, fabric and foam for upholstery applications.

For the transport sector, we manufacture seat covers for trains, buses and commuter rail vehicles. Our interior division covers seating, acoustic panels and stairlift seats.

European Business: What has enabled you to remain successful for so long?

Nicky Christiaen: We exclusively provide bespoke solutions. We have all the necessary tools and expertise in-house, allowing us to offer our customers a complete solution. We deliver genuine quality products that meet their exact requirements.

We are highly customer-focused, as well as reliable, professional and flexible. Our communication lines are short, enabling us to respond very quickly to requests. We meet our deadlines and deliver true craftsmanship.

European Business: How do you see the future?

Nicky Christiaen: Our customers are our top priority. We have been through challenging times in the past, and we now consider it very important to expand our existing customer portfolio further and, above all, secure long-term contracts.

We want to grow and are now also participating in public tenders—an area we intend to develop further. At the same time, we will continue building a healthy and sufficiently profitable business for ourselves and for our employees throughout the group.