Neele-Vat acquires Mainport Warehousing with an eye toward intermodal flows

Neele-Vat has today successfully reached an agreement on the acquisition of Mainport Warehousing & Forwarding in Rotterdam. With this acquisition, Neele-Vat is actively preparing for the upcoming opening of the cross-dock center in the Waalhaven. This will enable the company to manage intermodal transport flows even more efficiently.

The company, with 20 employees, will nevertheless continue to operate under its own name within the Neele-Vat group. Furthermore, the management team will remain in place, so the acquisition will have no impact on employment. In addition, Managing Director Jos Lems will continue to lead the branch following the acquisition.

Owner Henk van Esch is, however, stepping back. He will remain involved as an advisor. Henk van Esch: “I was looking for a reliable partner for the future. This way, I can ensure the continuity of my company and for the employees. Neele-Vat was able to offer those guarantees.”

What is Mainport?

Mainport excels particularly in cross-docking continental cargo for the short-sea sector. Furthermore, its location in the heart of the short-sea cluster makes it a valuable addition to Neele-Vat. However, at its current location, the company is reaching its capacity limits. Therefore, the new cross-dock center to be built by Neele-Vat offers a tremendous opportunity to continue this growth into the future. For this reason, the integration represents a true win-win solution for both companies.

Cuno Vat: “Thanks to the acquisition of Mainport, we are reducing the kilometers traveled to and from our facilities. This allows us to operate more efficiently and reduce CO2 emissions. Furthermore, we will also seek greater integration with rail in the future. For example, we already have several trains per week to Italy. These shipments carry cargo that is suitable for the cross-dock center.”

Future Outlook

In the coming years, Neele-Vat aims to further expand its pan-European transportation network. This acquisition and the associated expansion of the cross-dock facilities reinforce this strategy.

Even after its recent acquisitions, Neele-Vat remains a financially sound family-owned business with no fewer than 900 employees, 20 locations in 10 countries, 256,000 m² of warehouse space, and revenue of 300 million euros.