IJsfabriek Strombeek began its activities in 1904 with the production of water ice in the form of blocks of ice. The founders of IJsfabriek Strombeek capitalised on the lack of coolants that was felt at that time by the food industry and the hotel, restaurant and catering industry. With the advent of electrical refrigeration technology, a strategic decision was taken to diversify into carbon dioxide for delivering beer on draught. In 1952 the limited company was founded and IJsfabriek Strombeek began the production of industrial gases such as oxygen and acetylene for welding and cutting. By this time IJsfabriek Strombeek had interests in many other sectors: both in the heavy industrial and chemical sector and in the medical world, as well as being a supplier with an extensive range of welding equipment. At the end of the 1970s, IJsfabriek Strombeek started to produce nitrous oxide among other things for anaesthesia. It is the only firm in Belgium producing nitrous oxide and one of the largest and most modern in Europe.