Meeus Group's chemical companies and Dutch logistics service providers Gebroeders Hoefnagels Transport and Verheul Transport will officially continue under the name H.Essers. In one fell swoop, Belgian H.Essers will thus grow into one of the leading brands in multimodal chemical and infralogistics. By uniting the previously acquired companies under one strong brand name, H.Essers accentuates its strength and geographical spread in the logistics market.
The fact that the Dutch companies will now officially continue as H.Essers is an important step in the acquisition strategy aimed at strengthening its position in the Dutch and European markets. The company is known in Europe as a leading logistics player in chemicals, healthcare and infrastructure. With the recent acquisitions of Meeus Group, Gebroeders Hoefnagels Transport and Verheul Transport, H.Essers now also has that role in the Netherlands in terms of chemical and infrastructure logistics. In the future, the company's third pillar, healthcare, will also become part of its further international growth plans in the Netherlands.
Strategic location
The most recent acquisition, that of the Dutch Meeus Group, was also the largest in H.Essers' history. The emphasis here was on Meeus' activities in and from Bergen op Zoom, including advanced chemical logistics including hazardous goods. This not only enables H.Essers to realise its growth ambitions in chemistry, but also further shapes its establishment plans in Bergen op Zoom.
In H.Essers' eyes, with its strategic location between world ports Rotterdam and Antwerp and direct access to the Scheldt-Rhine Canal, Bergen op Zoom is the perfect intermediate station for transporting containers to the hinterland. This is why H.Essers is also working at this location to build a new, larger Markiezaat Container Terminal to replace the current inland terminal. The terminal is expected to be operational in 2026.
Sustainability
The new terminal with a capacity of 250,000 TEU/year will have good accessibility for larger ships due to its location outside the dykes, thus acting as a consolidation hub. By bundling cargoes, but also by working with renewable energy and battery containers, H.Essers is further committed to sustainability. In addition, 220,000 square metres of warehouse space will be built. With this, H.Essers offers transport solutions over water and warehousing and added value activities for companies in the region that want to import and export via the seaports.
Pascal Vranken, CCO of H.Essers: "Within our growth strategy, we are looking for sustainable solutions, which fit into our synchromodal vision of transport. We always want to transport loads in the most efficient way and make optimal use of different transport methods. By focusing more on waterborne transport, we contribute to a more sustainable logistics network in the Netherlands, with fewer containers being transported unnecessarily by road."
Infrastructure segment
The name change also officially marks the end of the successful takeovers of the Hoefnagels Transport brothers in Asten and Weert and of Twello-based Verheul Transport. Thanks to these acquisitions in the Dutch infrastructure segment, H.Essers is now the Benelux market leader in logistics services for all construction, infrastructure and utility companies.
"Customers increasingly demand logistics partners with a broad service offering and a large geographical spread. The acquisitions and investments allow us to expand our services and fleet and be more customer-oriented. We can now offer customers warehousing activities and a multimodal transport and distribution network with a wide international scope. In addition, we combine the various expertises of H.Essers and the acquired companies, enabling us to offer a very extensive service portfolio", says Pascal Vranken.
New country director
Along with the name change, the appointment of André Vermaat as country director also sharpens H.Essers' ambitions. "I am looking forward to leading the new Dutch company line-up," says Vermaat. "The acquisitions went very well and the teams were already well on their way to further bring together the company cultures, customers and expertise and create connection with H.Essers. Under this name, our Dutch team of almost 700 employees also wants to be known in our country as the one-stop shop for warehousing, logistics and transport where customer and sustainability are key."
