Four generations of MacLean have laid the foundation for our current company. What started more than 100 years ago as a haberdashery trade has grown into one of the most renowned Dutch trading companies in furniture fittings and LED lighting.

As a barely 16-year-old boy, Karel MacLean (1884-1952) left Klundert in North Brabant for Rotterdam in 1900. Around 1918, Karel met the German Unversagt family, of which red Theo was the best known. This Theo Unversagt was a woodturner by profession but also familiar with the production of window fittings. Theo and Karel founded a company in 1921 for the manufacture of wooden veneered window fittings. When Theo Unversagt converted the profits into spirits, Karel decided to continue alone. With the dedicated attention and work ethic of his son Martinus Cornelis (1907-1996), also known as MC, production was significantly increased.

Production and sales were initially kept in-house and the business flourished. But when sales increased, people looked for a way to purchase cheaper. This led to a veneer production in Paris (Roux-Baudrand Frères) in 1925, where Karel and son MC made the first purchase. In order to keep the larger batches of veneer in stock, warehouses were rented near Crooswijksestraat in Rotterdam. This development led to an increasing demand for veneer among the many furniture makers in Rotterdam.

At MC's insistence, his young brother Karel Jr. also placed in the business by father Karel. This ultimately became the founder of the current Mac Lean Industrie in Zwijndrecht, a supplier of edge banding. In the late 1930s, sales of wooden curtain rods stagnated due to the introduction of metal curtain rails. MC had taken over the management from his father Karel in 1936 and decided to continue with metal rails. The large stocks of wooden rings were offered to the first DIY stores in Rotterdam who also asked for knobs and handles. This furniture fittings were subsequently purchased both at home and abroad, with which MC laid the foundation for the current wholesale function in furniture fittings.

In 1953, MC's son Dick entered the business, which resulted in Mac Lean IJzerwaren in Rotterdam.

The eldest son Charles joined in 1955 and founded MacLean Agencies bv in 1984 with GRASS as the main agency. MacLean BV is no longer an agent, but has been an importer and distributor for decades. With the fourth generation at the helm.

In 2009, LED lighting for furniture, kitchens and bathrooms from the renowned German brand Hera was started. At the end of 2017, a manufacturer of LED products for offices, warehouses and shops was acquired. The flourishing company has grown into one of the most important suppliers of furniture fittings and LED lighting on the Dutch market.