Transuniverse Forwarding has acquired the forwarding company Welpa Trans based in Wommelgem (Antwerp). “This transaction strengthens our presence in the Eastern European traffic and brings in expertise in chartering”, says Olivia Adins, member of the Transuniverse management board.

Welpa Trans was founded in 1984 as freight forwarding company specialising in road transport and chartering. “We serve the whole of Europe, but our activities are mainly focused on Eastern Europe. We transport full loads as well as part loads and groupage shipments,” explains Linda Slootmans. She is a shareholder and director of the company together with Johnny Granacher.

“I am approaching retirement age and have no family succession. That’s why we looked for a partner with complementary activities that would give our company the best chances to continue to grow,” she adds.

says Olivia Adins: “A month ago, Transuniverse Forwarding already acquired Evergem-based APMEX. That transaction was intended to reinforce our position in the Western European groupage market, as well as in local distribution. With the acquisition of Welpa Trans, we aim to further strengthen ourselves with complementary activities”.

Eastern Europe and chartering

“First of all, Welpa Trans’ strength lies in the Eastern European traffic and more in specifically services to and from Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. These are important countries for us, where we want to increase our presence. With thicker flows, we can increase the frequency to these destinations,” she adds. “Secondly, Welpa Trans is specialised in chartering, i.e. buying and selling road transport capacity. Throughout Europe, we experience that this transport capacity is under pressure and is even decreasing in some countries. We can use this expertise to ensure that we can provide sufficient capacity and thus better serve our customers.”

“This expertise will also enable us to offer more services outside our core business – groupage – such as full loads, express transport or loads with special requirements. This will allow us to act more as a one-stop shop for our customers,” adds Miri Nedelcu, Purchase Manager at Transuniverse.

Independent entity

Welpa Trans employs four specialised staff. They will continue to work in the offices at the Rollebeekstraat in Wommelgem. Welpa Trans will operate as an independent entity within Transuniverse, in close cooperation with the colleagues in Wondelgem.

Welpa Trans has an annual turnover of 5.5 million euros. This brings the combined annual turnover of Transuniverse to approximately 80 million euros.

Increased scale

The acquisition of Welpa Trans, like that of APMEX, is part of Transuniverse’s strategy to achieve greater economies of scale. Increasing the scale is necessary to better absorb the sharp rise in costs and to improve capacity. “We expect the economy to cool down. This acquisition will allow us to maintain the frequency of departures and even increase them to Eastern Europe. It will also be possible to offer more return freight from this region. The other way round, Welpa Trans will be in a better position to develop groupage services,” concludes Olivia Adins.

Frank Adins, chairman of Transuniverse Forwarding, was recently a guest on Transportmedia’s Live Studio. Together with Jan Boonen, Sales Manager of Be-Trans (JOST), he was interviewed by chief editor Claude Yvens about the evolution of the road transport market and, more specifically, transport prices.

Today, demand for transport is still particularly high. But how it will evolve in the coming months is anyone’s guess. What is certain is that the cost price has risen sharply and will continue to rise. Not only is the diesel price at a record level, but also fixed costs – including wages – shot up. The increase in cost price varies from destination to destination, but on average it is 17%. And it will rise again in January due to another increase in wages, among other things.

“So it comes down to looking closely at the dashboard,” says Frank Adins. Like Jan Boonen, he argues that these costs will absolutely have to be passed on. Both are convinced of this: “There’s no choice: whoever doesn’t do that is going to die”.

Watch this fascinating and enlightening interview here.

Transuniverse Forwarding recently took over the groupage company Apmex International Forwarding from Evergem (Ghent). It specialises in trading across Western Europe, focusing on UK, France, Germany and Benelux distribution. This will strengthen our position in the groupage market and reinforce our team with experienced specialists.

Apmex was founded in 2003 by Alain Merckx. Today, his company has six employees and achieves an annual turnover of about 2.5 million euros. It enjoys an excellent reputation in the groupage sector and is known for its professional services and sound market knowledge. “We have always opted for quality and not quantity. We can therefore count on very loyal customers, dedicated employees and loyal transport partners,” he says.

“I will be retiring n May 2023 and I have no family heirs. We therefore looked for a buyer who would ensure continuity and maintain quality. We found it in Transuniverse Forwarding. An additional advantage for our staff is that our head office in Evergem is located a few kilometres from Transuniverse’s in Wondelgem,” he explains. All employees are making the switch.

A clear win-win

For Frank Adins, chairman of Transuniverse Forwarding, this takeover is a clear win-win for both companies. “Apmex actually does the same thing as Transuniverse, albeit on a smaller scale. This integration thus strengthens our groupage position in a number of key countries. Thanks to Apmex’ good relations with its transport partners, we also secure additional capacity, which is not evident in the current market conditions. And we welcome new colleagues with proven know-how. We are also able to offer Apmex customers a wider range of destinations. And new career opportunities are created for Apmex staff”.

Continuity guaranteed

Alain Merckx remains on board until the end of April 2023. “In doing so, I can ensure continuity and support integration. Operationally, little will change: both companies will gradually merge,” he says.

Transuniverse Forwarding strengthens position with acquisition of Apmex

Transuniverse Forwarding recently took over the groupage company Apmex International Forwarding from Evergem (Ghent). It specialises in trading across Western Europe, focusing on UK, France, Germany and Benelux distribution. This will strengthen our position in the groupage market and reinforce our team with experienced specialists.

Apmex was founded in 2003 by Alain Merckx. Today, his company has six employees and achieves an annual turnover of about 2.5 million euros. It enjoys an excellent reputation in the groupage sector and is known for its professional services and sound market knowledge. “We have always opted for quality and not quantity. We can therefore count on very loyal customers, dedicated employees and loyal transport partners,” he says.

“I will be retiring n May 2023 and I have no family heirs. We therefore looked for a buyer who would ensure continuity and maintain quality. We found it in Transuniverse Forwarding. An additional advantage for our staff is that our head office in Evergem is located a few kilometres from Transuniverse’s in Wondelgem,” he explains. All employees are making the switch.

A clear win-win

For Frank Adins, chairman of Transuniverse Forwarding, this takeover is a clear win-win for both companies. “Apmex actually does the same thing as Transuniverse, albeit on a smaller scale. This integration thus strengthens our groupage position in a number of key countries. Thanks to Apmex’ good relations with its transport partners, we also secure additional capacity, which is not evident in the current market conditions. And we welcome new colleagues with proven know-how. We are also able to offer Apmex customers a wider range of destinations. And new career opportunities are created for Apmex staff”.

Continuity guaranteed

Alain Merckx remains on board until the end of April 2023. “In doing so, I can ensure continuity and support integration. Operationally, little will change: both companies will gradually merge,” he says.

Transuniverse Forwarding strengthens position with acquisition of Apmex

Transuniverse Forwarding recently took over the groupage company Apmex International Forwarding from Evergem (Ghent). It specialises in trading across Western Europe, focusing on UK, France, Germany and Benelux distribution. This will strengthen our position in the groupage market and reinforce our team with experienced specialists.

Apmex was founded in 2003 by Alain Merckx. Today, his company has six employees and achieves an annual turnover of about 2.5 million euros. It enjoys an excellent reputation in the groupage sector and is known for its professional services and sound market knowledge. “We have always opted for quality and not quantity. We can therefore count on very loyal customers, dedicated employees and loyal transport partners,” he says.

“I will be retiring n May 2023 and I have no family heirs. We therefore looked for a buyer who would ensure continuity and maintain quality. We found it in Transuniverse Forwarding. An additional advantage for our staff is that our head office in Evergem is located a few kilometres from Transuniverse’s in Wondelgem,” he explains. All employees are making the switch.

A clear win-win

For Frank Adins, chairman of Transuniverse Forwarding, this takeover is a clear win-win for both companies. “Apmex actually does the same thing as Transuniverse, albeit on a smaller scale. This integration thus strengthens our groupage position in a number of key countries. Thanks to Apmex’ good relations with its transport partners, we also secure additional capacity, which is not evident in the current market conditions. And we welcome new colleagues with proven know-how. We are also able to offer Apmex customers a wider range of destinations. And new career opportunities are created for Apmex staff”.

Continuity guaranteed

Alain Merckx remains on board until the end of April 2023. “In doing so, I can ensure continuity and support integration. Operationally, little will change: both companies will gradually merge,” he says.

Cross-dock warehousing plays a key role in groupage transport. It is there that the goods are unloaded and leave almost immediately for their final destination. The quicker and more efficient their transit is, the better. But in speed lurks a risk of errors. Warehouse Manager Christophe Malfait makes sure that this core activity of Transuniverse Forwarding runs more efficiently and that the error rate remains minimal.

Christophe has been working for Transuniverse for over eighteen months now. “Before that I worked at Volvo Logistics in Oostakker. I started there as a warehouse employee and worked my way up to Operations Team Leader where I was responsible for the outbound traffic of Volvo truck parts for the international market. But after 24 years, I was ready for a new challenge. After about two years as Warehouse Supervisor at Sano Rice in Ghent, I joined Transuniverse as the cross-docking manager, which was more in line with the know-how I had acquired at Volvo,” he says. The cross-dock warehouse works 24/24 and 5/7 with 35 people over different shifts.

After a few months, he also became responsible for Handling, a team of six employees. “This department makes sure that the administration – such as CMR and customs documents – is dealt with correctly and acts as intermediary between Operations and the warehouse. The latter is important for any problems to be dealt with efficiently,” he says.

Handling and Logistics

The Logistics Department also comes under Christophe. “We also take care of the storage for two customers at our site in Wondelgem. One is a supplier of click laminates and the other specialises in battery chargers for bicycles and cars. A team of ten employees manages the stocks, does the order picking on demand and assembles the boxes and pallets that are pushed into the groupage network,” he explains. These three departments are therefore highly complementary. The better the interaction between them, the better the quality of service.

Exports play a dominant role in Transuniverse’s groupage charts. “This activity has been growing steadily and bottlenecks sometimes occurred at peak times. We are tackling these by improving communication with Operations and by increasing automation. The latter is not as obvious as one might think: cross-docking is a complex activity with many parameters,” says Christophe.

More quality thanks to automation

The first phase of this automation process has now been completed, i.e. the introduction of scanning for all goods. “Previously, we’d be working with loading and unloading lists that the operators ticked manually. Scanning is much more accurate and reliable but requires a little more from the handling process. Because people had to work differently, an adjustment period was needed. With my experience at Volvo, I was aware of the many advantages of scanning and was able to to convince them more easily, which speeded up implementation. The result: visibility is much better, flow is smoother and quality has already improved by no less than 40%,” Christophe notes.

So that first phase is over. “In the autumn we shall be launching the second phase of automation. The customer will not only be able to track their goods as they are being transported, but also internally in the warehouse. They’ll be able to find out more quickly whether their boxes or pallets have been received, whether they are ready to be dispatched or have already left, and so on,” he adds.

The aim is to continue reducing the error rate, make traceability even more accurate and improve the quality of the exchange of information with internal and external customers. “We expect this second phase to be completed within the year,” Christophe concludes.

Please make a note of 13, 14 and 15 September in your diary to visit Transport & Logistics Ghent at Flanders Expo. The famous transport and logistics fair, which is organised every two years in Antwerp, will now also continue in Ghent. Transuniverse Forwarding will of course be attending this home match! We look forward to welcoming you to our stand.

Ghent has grown into an important logistics hotspot with a number of major players. Both the logistics community and exhibitors as well as the visitors have shown great interest in a logistics fair in Ghent,” says Nadine Francus, group events director at organiser Easyfairs. So from this year onwards, the fair will be organised alternately in Ghent and Antwerp. More than 250 exhibitors are taking part in this first event in Ghent.

Register now here to get a free visit to the fair. We look forward to welcoming you at our stand, number 1226. Those who register via our link and scan their badge at our stand will have a chance to win a fantastic prize.

All of our commercial team will be there of course. If you want to meet someone specific from the Transuniverse team, you certainly can! Please contact him or her in advance or send an e-mail to info@transuniverse.be.

Want to know more about the fair? Click here!

Transuniverse Forwarding recently took 10 new TIP huckepack curtainsiders in use. The new trailers are completely custom-made and were delivered in our house style. They will mainly be used on routes to and from the United Kingdom.

Transuniverse Forwarding has been a customer of trailer leasing company TIP for many years. Our fleet currently consists of over 50 TIP trailers. Most of them are curtainsiders, but they also include several chassis and two Ekeri refrigerated trailers.

Miri Nedelcu, Purchase Manager at Transuniverse Forwarding, says: “We have been working with TIP for years and the relationship was always excellent. We find the contact very pleasant and professional. Any questions we have are answered very quickly. Moreover, TIP provides us with trailers that are specifically adapted to our needs. The trailers are also equipped with TIP Insight, so that we can monitor our assets at all times.

Michael Nierinck, Sales Manager at TIP, adds: “We do not only supply the trailers but also relieve Transuniverse by taking care of everything. For instance, they use a complete service package with a full cover programme. This means they don’t have to worry about the trailers and can focus entirely on their core business.

The explosive growth that Transuniverse Forwarding has experienced in recent years means that we must adapt our operations. After a thorough analysis, we created a new structure for the Export team. The new Export team is headed by manager Frederik Boon, who is assisted by Alexander Bekaert (Western and Southern Europe) and Pascal Willaert (Eastern Europe, Maghreb, Turkey and Greece).

“There is an acute shortage of personnel in logistics. It is increasingly difficult to find the right people. Good planners, for example, have become very scarce. The question then is how to sustain growth. The answer: by ensuring that the planners can concentrate on their core task and relieving them of as many administrative tasks as possible,” says Frederik. He is responsible for general management of the Export team, which now consists of around 35 people. He oversees the quality (and profitability) of the export service, ensures a better division of tasks and sets up synergies with the other services. Alexander and Pascal handle the continuous coaching and training of the employees.

By reviewing the operation, the Export team can therefore concentrate on its specific tasks, particularly finding the right transport capacity, planning the transports correctly and communicating with the agents. “We are lightening their workload on the one hand by digitising – the customer can already find a great deal of information in the new customer portal – and on the other hand by transferring tasks to an administrative unit that works in a more polyvalent way,” says Frederik.

New expectations

“The Amazons and bol.coms of this world have created new expectations for many customers in terms of tracking orders, informing them of the status of shipments and so on. When the planners no longer need to manage this, it gives them breathing space and we can build greater continuity and flexibility into the service,” Alexander adds.

“Thanks to the division within Export between Western and Southern Europe on the one hand and Eastern Europe, Maghreb, Turkey and Greece on the other, we can also make better use of the knowledge of the operational people and increase flexibility. It also enables us to respond more quickly and to better streamline communication with the other services,” Pascal emphasises.

Administrative unit

The Export team can now concentrate better on operational matters. In a second phase, there will also be a multipurpose unit that will manage the various administrative tasks. These people will, for example, be in contact with the agents to know when a shipment was picked up or delivered.

“That communication process cannot always be digitised because the agents usually use different IT systems. The administrative cell will therefore ensure better follow-up of orders. They will also be able to react more quickly when something happens in the chain. As a result, the customer will also benefit from the improvement of the internal organisation at Transuniverse,” Pascal concludes.

Shown in the photo (left to right): Pascal Willaert, Frederik Boon and Alexander Bekaert.