Second-hand as first choice: the shuttle system from BMS 

Sixty-six trucks full of steel and cables, en route from an abandoned warehouse near Venice to Evergem, near Ghent. For many it seemed a risky adventure, but for BMS it was the chance to give their logistics a new future and for E'Log a great opportunity to demonstrate their craftsmanship. “We'll get that going,” the team sounded determined. 

What started with a second-hand installation and quite a few question marks grew into a stable, scalable and efficient ASRS solution. Not a prestige project, but a system that does very well what it is supposed to do. And that's thanks to the close and transparent cooperation between BMS and E'Log. 

Looking together for more efficient logistics flows 

BMS is a fast-growing logistics player. The warehouse runs at full speed every day with electronics for retailers such as Expert, Selexion, Exellent, Hubo and Carrefour, and for webshops such as Bol.com and Art&Craft. Increasingly, this includes return logistics, repairs and even refurbishing. 

This increasing diversity requires flexibility, but also speed and efficiency. More speed in order picking and packaging, without extra hands and without a million dollar budget. When the opportunity arose to take over a refurbished shuttle system from Italy, CEO Pieter Janssens made a decision: “We decided on this route with confidence. E'Log simply exudes that they can do this. Combine that with a budget barely a third of what you would invest in a new building, and then you know: we're going for it.” 

From abandoned plant to tightly organized picking zone 

The installation was impressive: 86 meters long, 7 meters wide, 7 meters high. Once the beating heart of an Italian electrical chain, now dismantled, transported and rebuilt in Evergem. 

There, the system was given a second life. It was linked to a new conveyor line, equipped with pick-to-light workstations and integrated into a completely new packing flow. The result: a tightly organized picking zone. No overengineering, no expensive frills. Just smart doing what's needed. 

Technical challenges, pragmatic solutions 

A second-hand installation sounds cheaper, but brings its own challenges. Belgian fire standards turned out to be stricter than in Italy. A network cabinet was even lost during transport. And when coupling the shuttle with the WMS, planning was delayed. 

“The collaboration with E'Log was very intense,” Pieter says. “Our teams sat together weekly. Everything open and transparent. Of course there were difficult moments, but E'Log buckled down and didn't give up. This is precisely why I still give them a big 8 out of 10.” 

Process orders faster, more accurately and more sustainably 

Today, the difference is palpable. The system can process 720 totes per hour, fed from 32,000 locations. Where everything used to be done manually, picking is now faster, with fewer errors and less packaging material. 

“We can wait longer with order processing and push back our cut-off,” says Pieter. “That gives our customers more flexibility and us more clout. Especially at very busy times, such as Black Friday or the Christmas period, that is a particularly big advantage.” 

And the future? For now, the system is running at half capacity. So there is still plenty of room to scale up. 

The lesson: second hand is not second choice 

For BMS, this facility is more than technology. It is a lever for growth and confidence. Automation doesn't have to cost millions and you don't always have to start from scratch. 

What you do need is a partner who listens, thinks and participates. Not a salesman, but a companion the route who stands beside you, even when things get technically exciting. 

This project shows that second-hand is not a second choice. Smart automation, above all, means using common sense.