Between two World Wars

Already from the beginning of this period ABC exported to Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and Congo, a Belgian Colony in Central Africa. ABC survived successfully the industrial crisis in the twenties, mostly because of the confidence earned from the Fishermen of the Belgian Coast, as well as from the ship-owners for inland vessels transporting to France and Germany. In both applications the exploitation margins of the ship-owners were that small that they couldn't afford time loss for repairing. They needed robust engines, with long lifetime and low fuel and oil consumptions.

ABC understood the needs of these people and took a big market share. ABC signed a license agreement with the Engineering Company Paxman Ricardo from London and got the permission to build engines of 1500 rpm. Hence the second generation in engine construction was born. Tradition from father to son ensured powerful and long-lasting engines. These engines were also used for power generation and were basic equipment for every missionary school or hospital in the previous Belgian Colony Congo, nowadays known as under the name of 'Republic of Congo'. Some of these installations, between 6 and 100 HP are still operational today! Unfortunately, when Belgium got involved in the Second World War, the heydays were over.