Building space, sustainability and international clout

In the logistics real estate sector, the name of Willy Naessens Industriebouw rings like a bell. Around 65 percent of the company's turnover is directly linked to logistics projects. Therefore, the company should not be missed at the next edition of Transport & Logistics 2025. For commercial director Luc Ysebaert, this event is a unique opportunity to bring the sector together around the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow. And there are more than enough topics for discussion.

Logistics have been one of the main pillars of Willy Naessens Industriebouw for decades. Luc Ysebaert explains: "Today about 65 percent of our turnover is directly linked to logistics projects, which until a few years ago accounted for one and a half to two million square meters per year spread over six countries. Our customer base ranges from international project developers such as WDP, Weerts, Goodman and Heylen to Belgian logistics heavyweights such as H.Essers, Katoen Natie and Van Moer."

That solid presence translates into an impressive portfolio. "We are currently building a large distribution center in Liege on behalf of Weerts for Sketchers, a project that will run until 2027," Ysebaert said. "In the Netherlands, we are working on a state-of-the-art 200,000-square-meter distribution center for furniture chain JYSK in Lelystad, and Rituals is also counting on a new 100,000-square-meter logistics building there."

In addition, several dossiers are underway in northern France and in the Belgian food sector, where several French fry producers are investing in additional storage and production space. "These are all projects that show that with Willy Naessens Industriebouw we do more than build," Ysebaert points out. "We play along on the international axis of supply chains that provide the European economy with the necessary building blocks."

Knowledge, connections and inspiration

For Ysebaert, the appeal of the Transport & Logistics trade show lies in three things: knowledge, connections and inspiration. "It is one of the most important meeting places in our sector. You see customers, partners and suppliers there, but also new players with fresh ideas. After all, an exhibition floor offers more dynamics than a formal meeting room."

In addition to networking, the seminars and keynotes are another reason to attend. They bring an overview of the latest innovations and market developments, from digitization and automation to new regulations and sustainability. "You always come back with insights you can immediately apply in conversations with clients or in our own projects," Ysebaert said.

Engaging conversation topics

During the fair, conversations will naturally focus on industry-wide themes. Sustainability is at the top of the list. Willy Naessens Industriebouw is fully committed to circular construction with its The Circle concept. Ysebaert: "By constructing buildings from modular, demountable concrete components, our customers gain flexibility and at the same time we make the carbon footprint transparent from the design phase onwards. Moreover, we have developed the concept in such a way that it automatically responds to criteria of certification systems such as BREEAM."

In addition, the conversation inevitably turns to space efficiency. "Because available land in Belgium is becoming increasingly scarce and the price per square meter is rising sharply, high-rise buildings are gaining in importance," says Ysebaert. "Multi storage warehouses today are no longer a niche, but a logical way to get efficiency from limited space. I see this as a trend that cannot be reversed."

As a third topic of conversation, the experienced commercial director sees the slow licensing and impact of environmental files in Belgium, such as nitrogen and PFAS. "Several projects have been on hold for years because of this, including in our company. Sharing experiences around those procedures is recognizable and useful for many industry colleagues."

Finally, the international perspective is also very much alive. "Our recent projects for JYSK and Rituals in the Netherlands and the expansion into northern France prove that Belgian construction expertise in logistics is appreciated across borders," Ysebaert proudly points out. "These are examples that come up spontaneously during networking sessions because they illustrate how the sector is increasingly interweaving in Europe."

Ready for the future

For Willy Naessens Industriebouw, the fair is not just about showing completed projects, but mainly about connecting and thinking ahead. "We want to show that industrial construction is more than stacking bricks," concludes Ysebaert. "It's about thinking along with the customer, investing sustainably and finding solutions to the challenges of logistics today."