Desmet Ballestra

The story of Desmet Ballestra begins as two separate, parallel tracks in post-war Europe. In 1946, Belgian engineer Jean-Albert De Smet founded a company to commercialize his inventions in the oils and fats processing industry. His firm, Desmet, focused on engineering and supplying plants that transformed oilseeds and grains. Meanwhile, in Italy, another engineer, Mario Ballestra, established his own company in 1960. Ballestra's focus was on the chemical sector, designing plants for the production of detergents and surfactants. For decades, both companies grew independently, becoming leaders in their respective fields. Desmet expanded globally, building a reputation in edible oils and animal feed processing. Ballestra became a go-to name for the world's soap and detergent industry. The playbook shifted in the early 2000s with the rise of the renewable energy market. In December 2004, the two engineering powerhouses saw an opportunity and decided to merge, forming the Desmet Ballestra Group to tackle the growing demand for biodiesel plants. The combined entity was a dominant force, providing technology for everything from edible oils to biofuels. However, the journey took another turn in 2022 when the group was sold and split. The Swedish industrial giant Alfa Laval acquired the Desmet portion of the business, incorporating its expertise in oils, fats, and biofuels into its Food & Water Division. Following this transaction, Ballestra once again operates as a separate company, focused on its foundational chemical and detergent plant business.