As from 2020, ANEKA and EDMOND VAN DYCK & SONS will join forces and merge into a new company. The two Antwerp based freight forwarders are merging their structures, their personnel, and their customers in order to focus on the challenges that lie ahead. The new company will continue to offer their 350 international customers a flexible, customised approach, but with a solid investment in global innovative solutions for various logistics challenges.
A merger
The announcement follows a long period of thorough discussions in which the five shareholders were able to draw the outlines of their mission: becoming “the key player” and provide services beyond expectations to their clients.
During the second half of 2019, all practical and organisational issues will be addressed, in order for STEELDUXX to be fully operational from spring 2020 onwards.
Five shareholders are at the helm of this new project: Lou Appels, Conny Audenaert, Benoit Van Dyck, Laurent Van Dyck and Geoffrey Van Dyck.
Key player in the sector
The merger demonstrates solid growth ambitions, both in terms of customers and innovations. Both companies can build on a fine list of over 350 customers, which will only expand in the future. In addition, STEELDUXX will also focus on extending its services and developing new innovative solutions.
Benoit Van Dyck: “The logistics sector faces great challenges. With the advent of new technologies and competition becoming fiercer, speed and efficiency are becoming increasingly important. We are convinced that ANEKA’s global network, combined with Edmond Van Dyck & Sons’ 100 years of experience, the perfect basis for a substantial expansion in the shipping business is set.”
Lou Appels: “ ‘Key player’ and ‘true steel maniacs’ are not just words, but our daily values and targets. This merger will bring together a group of people who offer professionalism, experience, commitment, solutions, service, creativity and innovation to each one of our customers and suppliers for the next 25 years. Shipping in its traditional form has become outdated. The future requires different approaches and ideas and STEELDUXX wants to lead by example.”
Global activities
Both companies have extensive experience in collaborating with partners and networks both at home and abroad. STEELDUXX’s activities will continue with own offices, joint ventures and dedicated agents in Southeast Asia, the Far East, the Middle East, West, South and North Africa, Brazil and throughout Europe.
ANEKA and Edmond Van Dyck & Sons jointly handle a volume of steel of around 1,200,000 mt per year. Their activities are subdivided into import and export, shipping, forwarding, warehousing, cross trade, chartering, inland transportation and consultancy. They additionally offer a neutral loading platform in Antwerp (300,000 freight tons/year) for foreign shippers of various breakbulk cargo and are active in the container and RO/RO business.
