Manufacturing Belge de Lampes Electriques or MBLE was a Belgian factory of incandescent lamps and electronic components and for a long time the largest Belgian factory of its kind.
The company was founded in Vilvoorde in 1911 under the name: La lampe Brabant. Originally incandescent bulbs were produced under the brand name Mazda (la meilleure lumière!). From 1924 electron tubes were also manufactured, now under the brand name Adzam (la meilleure musique!). In 1925, a partnership with Philips began.
In 1947, the production of TL tubes began, and in 1949 electronic components were manufactured and also concerned with telecommunications and nuclear physics. Thus, the number of academically engineered technicians increased to more than 160 in 1955. Modern plants were also built in Brussels on the two-station street, Evere on the Cicerolaan and Anderlecht on the Gespstraat and the Maurice Herbettelaan. Between 1948 and 1955, the staff population tripled. In the late 1960s, a factory was built in Grâce-Hollogne. In 1961 a condenser plant in Roeselare was completed. This moved to Beveren in 1965. There were then 5500 people at MBLE. One was also going to manufacture semiconductors. There were great plans for the future but it turned out.
As of 1957, integration with Philips became stronger. In 1958 MBLE participated in the Expo 58 with its own pavilion, in the form of an electron tube. In 1967, Philips sound recording equipment was sold in Belgium.
In 1981, MBLE was completely integrated into Philips and the name MBLE disappeared. The location in Beveren was further shrunk. Beginning of the 21st century, Philips Beveren was taken over by the American producer of Vishay BC Components film capacitors. In 2008, it decided to close the already heavily slimmed company, with another 70 fired.
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