Logistics automation with no-nonsense mentality

In the first edition of this new trade magazine (September-October 2023), we introduced you to E'Log Automation, a turnkey integrator of logistics automation started in May 2022 by four experienced professionals from the material handling industry. CEO and co-founder Sacha Van Droogenbroeck explained how this independent start-up wants to and can make a difference for ambitious entrepreneurs. Since the publication of this first article, E'Log Automation has grown significantly. Time for an update.

With a combined 113 years of experience in logistics and supply chain management, captains of industry Sacha Van Droogenbroeck, Patrick Hennebert, Marc Guns and Jan Vercammen joined forces to create a leading turnkey integrator of logistics automation. "From the start - almost two years ago now - we have been a no-nonsense automation partner for small and medium-sized projects and have grown to become the reference in the Benelux," Van Droogenbroeck reaffirms. 

"The experience and extensive network of my colleagues and myself came in very handy when we started our business. Today our business is running well, with great prospects in our neighboring countries as well."

From fifteen to forty

"About a year ago, a team of about fifteen driven colleagues worked on some great projects. Soon we will have forty employees on board, who together are managing some twenty customer projects," Van Droogenbroeck says proudly. "Despite the current war for talent, the influx to new engineering talent went quite smoothly. We owe this in large part to our strong employer image and corporate DNA, where we spare no expense in building a positive corporate culture. In doing so, we offer a lot of development opportunities and autonomy to our employees and numerous exciting logistics projects in which they can indulge."

Strong business growth in 2023

Van Droogenbroeck and his colleagues can present handsome operating results for 2023. "Last year we realized a turnover of almost five million euros in sales, while maintaining a nice profit margin. This growth was only possible thanks to the tireless efforts of our entire top team, people who are obsessed with their profession. In every project, they assist our customers from A to Z, from scratch to a complete concept design to the implementation and maintenance of a system. Because we focus mainly on small and medium-sized companies - between 50,000 and 5 million euros - we can also maximize our personalized approach. The expertise of our people makes the absolute difference here."

Four pillars in service delivery

Customers appreciate the hands-on approach of the E'Log team. In modulating independent customized supply chain solutions, the company relies on four applications. Van Droogenbroeck explains, "A first application is the use of AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles) and AMRs (Autonomous Mobile Robots) for order picking and internal transport. The focus is on the optimization of (manual) flows. A second application is internal conveyor and transport systems. For the third application, we are looking toward microfulfillment, where all the focus is on e-commerce and the optimization of error-free delivery within 24 hours. And fourth, we are looking with our customers at all the possibilities of automated storage solutions."

"With this four-leaf clover, we set out to integrate ready-to-use automated warehouses and distribution centers with strong partnerships. The result: short implementation times and cost-effective projects."

Wonderful logistics projects

E'Log Automation's order book is quite full at the moment. And among them are some wonderful logistics projects. "For example, in the coming year we may equip a fully automated high bay warehouse with state-of-the-art technological solutions for a West Flanders fries giant. We expect to complete this major project in early 2025." 

"We are also deploying our expertise and experience for some fast-growing market players in the manufacturing industry, including setting up a warehouse with self-propelled robots. And for a retail company we are automating transport via rolling carts. Here we determine all electromechanical components ourselves and are the glue between the various subsystems in a project. We are ready every day in various sectors - from e-commerce to food & beverage, from pharma to third-party logistics - to deploy our logistics expertise in redesigning storage and production environments."

The sky is the limit

As more and more small and medium-sized companies want to implement automation projects, small or otherwise, in logistics, Van Droogenbroeck expects plenty of work in the coming years on
the shelf. 

"This year we are pulling out all the stops to generate 20 to 25 million euros in sales. However, that target is less important than keeping our customer promises. We do not sell anything that we know in advance that the timing is not realistic, or where we have doubts about the solution. 

To achieve our goals, I will work with colleagues to build a team of at least 50 employees by the end of 2024. We are also continuing to make progress in the Netherlands. At the end of the first quarter of this year, we are planning the opening of our Dutch entity in the Rotterdam region, and there too we will be intensively searching for motivated talents in maintenance and engineering who want to roll up their sleeves, who are driven and positively minded and thus fit perfectly into our corporate culture."