On Thursday 6 June 2024, we held a customer event with the theme ‘Sustainable Growth is Teamwork’ in an atmospheric tent on the field in front of our head office. This event provided insights into the crucial role of teamwork in pursuing a sustainable policy.
The evening began with inspiring talks led by four sustainability experts. Wannes Libbrecht (ENCON) opened with a talk on CSRD reporting,
This autumn we will start building our own HVO fueling station.
The past six months have not been idle. On the 5th of February this year, we welcomed 61 new employees with the start-up for AMAdrinks, the catering partner of Alken-Maes. We moved their central warehouse to Londerzeel and are proud to call the local warehouse in Wellen our 22nd warehouse. We also took the first 2 electric trucks into service mid-January. Recently we placed an additional order for 6 electric trucks. Furthermore, this autumn we will start building our own fuelling station at our site in Willebroek. Here, our trucks will also be able to fill up with HVO. This kind of fuel produces CO2 savings ranging from 89% to 94%. Unfortunately, the price of HVO is still considerably more expensive than fossil fuels. Nevertheless, our CO2 emissions should fall by 55% in 2030 compared to the reference year 1990.
which will become mandatory as of 2025. He emphasised how transparent and consistent reports can help companies measure and reduce their environmental impact.
Pieter Thienpont of Volvo Trucks Belux followed with a presentation on alternative fuels. He shed light on the latest developments and shared insights into how these technologies can make the transport sector more sustainable.
Thomas Vercammen of Toyota Material Handling gave a fascinating presentation on the many ways automation improves sustainability. He demonstrated how automated systems not only increase efficiency but also contribute to reducing your environmental footprint.
Our own CEO Philip Salaerts closed the series of talks with an inspiring overview of the sustainable
The automation project (20 AGVs and an infeed conveyor) in Willebroek is now almost at full speed and we will very likely scale up from 2025 onwards. In Londerzeel, we plan to replace our current freezer in 2027-2028 with a state-of-theart cold store in which automation will obviously play an important role.
In the years to come, labour market tightness will have an increasing impact. To counteract its effects, we believe that automating simple repetitive tasks is the only sustainable long-term solution. This does make us evolve from a labourintensive sector to a capital-intensive one.
However, we cannot do all this alone. You, the customer, play an important role in this. After all, achieving sustainable growth is teamwork.
Happy to wish you sunny and enjoyable holidays! Enjoy reading!
initiatives Distrilog has already implemented and our plans for the future. He explained the efforts required to achieve genuinely sustainable growth and how collaborations with our customers are at the core of our approach.
The event stressed the need for collaboration and innovation in ensuring a sustainable future.
After these speeches, guests were given the opportunity to tour our partially automated warehouse in Breendonk. In addition, participants could even ride on one of our electric trucks to gain hands-on experience into our efforts to ensure a carbon neutral future.
The event ‘Sustainable Growth is Teamwork’ stressed the need for collaboration and innovation in ensuring a sustainable future.
A successful step forward for Distrilog
Distrilog completed the acquisition of Amadrinks in early February, strengthening its position in the transport and logistics sector. As always, this acquisition required thorough preparation and careful planning to be successful.
Preparation
The first step in the preparation process was the implementation of TAS, our modular transport management system (TMS). This implementation allowed us to run a streamlined and efficient transport operation from day one.
In addition, delivery days were completely redesigned to meet the specific needs of Amadrinks customers. Another important novelty in our operational approach is the use of 2-man teams for intensive deliveries, such as carrying and passing barrels through cellar holes. This as a guarantee of safe and efficient delivery.
We are actively recruiting co-drivers.
In parallel, 24 vehicles were taken over from Amadrinks and an onboard computer was installed in them to start with. Each of these vehicles can carry 12 to 16 pallets and is equipped with an electrically controlled canvas, which significantly improves efficiency and safety during loading and unloading.
Along the way, we also got to know our new colleagues. The Amadrinks staff at the Mechelen warehouse moved with us to our warehouse W34 in Londerzeel, while the staff at the Wellen warehouse was able to continue working at their current location. We therefore took over the site in Wellen, our 22nd warehouse. All employees were taken over via a CLA32bis, an employment contract with which Distrilog already has experience thanks to previous takeovers.
IN THE PICTURE Distrilog cycles 1000 kilometres for Kom op
From 9 to 12 May, Distrilog participated in the 1,000 km bike ride for Kom op tegen Kanker for the second year in a row. This year we participated with two cycling teams; double the number of cyclists compared to last year. Each day, the teams cycled 125 km from Mechelen to one of the host towns of Glabbeek, Aalst, Pelt and Oostkamp, after which they cycle the 125 km back to Mechelen, which adds up to 1000 km per team.
The official launch of our operations for Amadrinks took place on the 5th of February this year. The transition was systemically successful, although a short adjustment period was needed to get the new operations on track. During this period, cooperation was essential. Drivers from our other sites jumped in to ensure that all deliveries were completed on time.
The teamwork during this phase was crucial and contributed to a smooth transition. Thanks to everyone’s commitment and flexibility, we were able to resolve any start-up issues quickly and bring and maintain services to the desired level.
Despite the successful implementation of this new activity, challenges remain. The type of work, such as carrying barrels and lifting heavy weights, remains an intensive task that needs to be handled with care. In addition, monitoring the handling of empties remains an ongoing challenge.
To meet these challenges, we are actively recruiting co-drivers needed to strengthen the 2-man teams. These co-drivers play a crucial role in supporting the drivers and ensuring that the heavy tasks are carried out efficiently and safely.
The acquisition of Amadrinks has not only given us the opportunity to expand our fleet and capacity, but has also allowed us to broaden our services and enter new markets. Everyone’s cooperation and commitment has played a vital role in the success of this acquisition. Distrilog remains determined to provide the highest standard of service to its customers and to continuously strive to improve and innovate in its operations.
Jeroen, Ruben, Koen, Kurt, Brent, Stan, Korneel, Ruben, Jeroen, Philip, Nicolas and Johan gave it their all in the sunny landscape of Belgium. The weekend was a roaring success, with enthusiastic participants, heartwarming commitment from all volunteers and cheers from the supporters along the route.
Through this wonderful charity sports event, Distrilog is contributing to the fight against cancer and this is an exhibit as to how social commitment and teamwork go hand in hand. We are already looking forward to next year, when we hope to participate again and cycle at least as many kilometres for this worthy cause.
Distrilog’s participation would not have been possible without the encouragement of main sponsors Primagaz and Globius.Our thanks also go out to the other sponsors Douwe Egberts, Maes, Bahlsen, ETI and Zeelandia.
As of 30 May, our site L5 in Puurs has had an update: the new voice picking system ‘Lydia’ has been implemented. This innovative system offers significant benefits and optimises our warehouse staff’s work in various ways.
Efficiency and convenience
One of the most notable advantages of the Lydia system is the use of a computerised voice, which guides the warehouse employee. This means we can skip the time-consuming voice training we used to have to do to input all the words for every new warehouse employee. The system provides consistent and clear instructions regardless of the employee’s experience or background. In addition, the system is available in three different languages, making it more accessible for our diverse workforce. This increases efficiency and reduces the risk of miscommunications.
Consistent communication
The transition to the new system went smoothly due to the fact that the dialogue structure remained largely unchanged. Only a few commands have been modified, meaning warehouse staff can quickly adapt without extensive retraining. This keeps the transition time to a minimum and ensures productivity remains high during the implementation period.
Training and education
The system provides consistent and clear instructions.
To support the implementation, all team leaders will receive training starting from the beginning of June. This training will give them a comprehensive understanding of the new system and enable them to thoroughly train their team members at different times. This approach ensures that all employees feel comfortable with Lydia and can make full use of the new technology.
In short
The new voice picking system programme Lydia is a significant step forward for the site L5 in Puurs. The improved efficiency, flexibility and seamless transition allows us to take our logistics processes to the next level. The introduction of Lydia underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation and improvement, and we eagerly await the positive impact this system will have on our day-to-day operations.
After months of intensive implementation and meticulous planning, the automation project at Distrilog’s Breendonk warehouse is finally up and running. On Monday 17 June, this cheerful occasion was celebrated with a press event at our headquarters. This gave the outside world the chance to take a look at this innovative implementation, which is now the pride of our warehouse operations in Breendonk.
Innovative automation
At the heart of this automation are 12 RAEs (automatic reach trucks) and 8 SAEs (automatic stackers). These advanced machines are designed to lift full pallets off an Infeed Conveyor and efficiently store them away in the warehouse or on buffer racks. These units account for as many as 3,000 movements per day, resulting in significant operational efficiencies.
For one particular customer
This comprehensive automation of the Inbound Flow, Outbound Flow and Replenishment was implemented for one specific customer, with whom we have built a strong, long-term partnership.
Through close collaboration, we have been able to create a solution that perfectly meets the customer’s needs while optimising our logistics processes.
The automation project offers numerous benefits. One of the biggest advantages is the ability to work continuously day and
night. The automated machines can operate without lighting or heating, which not only reduces operational costs, but also contributes to reducing our ecological footprint. In addition, all 20 AGVs can be monitored by just one person, which largely addresses the problem of labour shortages. Moreover, the automation can easily be scaled up, which will allow us to grow even further and expand our capacity in the future.
This comprehensive automation was implemented for one specific customer.
This level of sophisticated automation requires a huge investment, but this project is the love child of a collaboration between Distrilog and its client. Both parties have a shared vision of automation and were determined to realise this vision. By investing in this technology together, we have taken an important step towards the future of logistics and warehouse management.
The press event on 17 June marked not only the successful implementation of the project, but also the dawn of a new era for our warehouses. This automation allows us to respond to the current logistics trend which involves replacing labourintensive logistics activities with capitalintensive ones. We look forward to further implement these and other technologies to improve the efficiency of our processes.