History

Jos Braes, owner of MIC Europe, worked for a distribution company for sprinkler materials. Two years later, in 1989, this company was taken over by an American manufacturer of sprinkler materials. They were looking for a representative office for their products in Europe. After a few years, Jos wanted to grow further and saw an opportunity to start selling pipes as well as sprinkler materials. This could not be done under the flag of the American company.

1995 own company sprinkler systems

In 1995 Jos started his own company and sold both sprinkler materials and pipes and it became a success. During modifications and expansions of existing sprinkler systems, he saw for the first time visible effects of corrosion in the pipes and that the deterioration and blockages in the systems were often serious. He then wondered how this could be, but no one knew a good answer to this. This was the first encounter with (mic) corrosion in sprinkler systems, although it was unknown that it was corrosion under the influence of the mic bacteria.

2000 mic corrosion in America

After some years of successfully building his business, he was able to sell the company. In America, around the year 2005, he ran into the phenomenon of corrosion in sprinkler systems again. It had become a hot topic there. He became interested in it. In America there were already products on the market to treat and prevent corrosion. In Europe he had experienced many leaks and blockages and this was the reason Jos decided to start MIC Europe. His goal was (and is) to detect, treat and prevent leaks and blockages in sprinkler systems with effective and proven products and services.

MIC corrosion unknown in Europe

Where in America there was already a lot of attention and knowledge about mic corrosion and the problems were also addressed, it turned out to be a very unknown phenomenon in Europe. The blockages and leaks were there, but that in many cases it was mic corrosion was unknown.

2008 commission of experts

MIC Europe did a lot of mission work to raise awareness of mic corrosion and share its knowledge with installers and especially for the fact that it can be detected, prevented and treated. Still it was difficult to convince the market to take preventive measures. Nevertheless, MIC Europe received more and more orders and its knowledge was called upon in case of leaks and blockages. With products like MIC Guard, micro-corrosion could be treated and stopped. In 2009 the committee of expert Blus appointed a corrosion working group from the various disciplines such as insurers, installers, kwa, etc. to bundle knowledge and experience in the field of corrosion and take a joint stand. To get agreement with all stakeholders proved to be difficult.

2020 mandatory camera inspections

Meanwhile, inspections are mandatory as well as internal camera inspections in sprinkler systems, detecting corrosion. From 2006 until now, MIC Europe has built up a lot of knowledge and experience and, despite the necessary resistance, has grown in various respects. The market has also changed enormously. Sustainability has become an important issue and the current generation is more aware of this.