The Belgian logistics service provider Kris De Leener (KDL) plans to equip a planned new logistics center in the Lokeren logistics corridor near Antwerp with an automatic shuttle system from Movu Robotics. The investment is part of a multi-million euro real estate transaction with WDP and marks a milestone in the partnership between KDL and Movu, announced the provider of warehouse automation on April 24, which belongs to the Stow Group. Construction of the 18,000 square meter warehouse is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026.
So far, the technology from Movu Robotics is already being used in KDL's existing high-bay warehouse, which is headquartered in Lokeren. The new development builds on the
success of this KDL warehouse, which continues to play a central role in the company's day-to-day operations, according to the statement. By integrating both warehouses into the same logistics ecosystem, KDL ensures maximum synergies in the areas of goods flow, labor, and IT. The location directly on the highway offers, according to Movu Robotics, an “optimal access to the Belgian economic centers.”
“The decision to partner with Movu again was an obvious one,” said Kris De Leeneer, CEO of KDL. “We have learned firsthand how their automation enables smarter, more responsive logistics. This next phase will strengthen our ability to serve customers with speed, precision, and sustainability.”
With a free internal height of 15
meters, 20 loading docks, and its own temperature-controlled cell, the planned building is intended to be suitable for cross-docking, the handling of various products, and use for multiple customers. At the heart of the new facility will be Movu's “Atlas Shuttle” system, designed to control more than 22,000 pallet locations in high-security racks and almost 11,000 conventional positions. The system is compatible with both Euro and industrial pallets – including those with significant overhang – and designed for heavy handling of up to 1,200 kilograms per unit. According to Movu, there is no timeline for the installation of the facility yet.
Equipped with a large fleet of autonomous Movu shuttles and several vertical lifts,
the warehouse is expected to store and retrieve a considerable number of pallets per hour, controlled by Movu's own Warehouse Execution Software (“Movu OPS”). Future scalability is to be integrated to allow KDL to increase throughput as operational requirements evolve.
“This project reflects our joint aspiration to build an infrastructure that grows with the business it serves,” said Jos De Vuyst, CEO of Movu Robotics and the parent company Stow Group. “As a company rooted in Lokeren, we are proud to continue supporting KDL on its journey into the future of warehouse operations. By providing compact, scalable, and high-performance automation technology through Movu Robotics, we help KDL remain agile and competitive in an increasingly
