ABB Industrial Robot
ABB is a global leader in robotics and automation. While their main robotics factories are in Sweden and China, their Belgian hub in Zaventem is crucial for sales, service, and the integration of robots into complete automated solutions for the Benelux market. The supply chain for an industrial robot is deeply global, relying on highly specialized suppliers for precision mechanics, advanced electronics, and specialized materials.
Agfa Eclipse Printing Plate
The Agfa Eclipse is a high-performance, chemistry-free offset printing plate used in the commercial printing industry for applications like magazines and packaging. Its manufacturing is a showcase of advanced materials science, involving the electrochemical graining and anodizing of high-purity aluminum, followed by the application of a proprietary photosensitive coating at Agfa's specialized facility in Mortsel, Belgium.
The Airbus A400M Atlas
The A400M is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It represents one of Europe's most significant and complex collaborative defense projects, designed to provide tactical and strategic airlift capabilities. Its supply chain is a testament to pan-European industrial cooperation, with major sections built in different countries before being brought together for final assembly in Spain.
ArcelorMittal Belgium Steel Production
ArcelorMittal operates major steel plants in Belgium, most notably in Ghent and Liège. The Ghent plant is a fully integrated coastal steelworks, meaning it handles the entire process from raw materials to finished steel products. This supply chain is global, relying on massive shipments of iron ore and coal, which are then transformed into high-quality steel for critical European industries like automotive and construction.
ASM Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) System
ASM is a pioneering manufacturer of semiconductor wafer processing equipment. Their ALD systems are critical tools used by chipmakers to deposit ultra-thin, uniform films on silicon wafers, a fundamental step in creating modern microchips. The supply chain is exceptionally complex and global, relying on suppliers of ultra-high-purity materials and incredibly precise sub-systems, which are integrated by ASM in the Netherlands and at their advanced R&D hub in Leuven, Belgium.
The Belgian Praliné Supply Chain
A Belgian praliné is a filled chocolate bonbon. Its creation involves a complex global supply chain, sourcing ingredients like cacao and sugar, which are processed using specialized industrial machinery and then masterfully combined by chocolatiers before being packaged and sold in luxury boutiques globally.
BESIX Group Construction Project
As a leading Belgian construction group, BESIX's "product" is the successful delivery of complex projects like skyscrapers, airports, and marine infrastructure. This supply chain is project-based, centered around BESIX as the general contractor. They orchestrate a vast network of specialized subcontractors, major material producers, and equipment suppliers to bring the architectural vision to reality.
European PGM Supply Chain
The Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) — including platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium, and osmium — are critical for many high-tech industries. Europe's supply chain is characterized by a heavy reliance on mined raw materials from South Africa and Russia. However, Europe holds a world-leading position in the complex refining and, crucially, the recycling of these valuable metals, with companies like Umicore in Belgium being central players. These refined materials are then transformed into catalysts, fuel cells, and electronic components by major European industrial manufacturers.
Legend
NLMK Belgium Hot-Rolled Steel
NLMK Belgium Holdings operates several sites, including a major hot strip mill at NLMK La Louvière. Unlike a fully integrated steelworks, this plant specializes in processing semi-finished steel slabs into high-quality hot-rolled coils. The supply chain is defined by the import of these slabs, primarily from NLMK's main production sites, which are then finished in Belgium and supplied to demanding industrial sectors across Europe.
Rear-Wheel Steering System
An active rear-wheel steering system adds steering capability to the rear axle of a vehicle. By turning the rear wheels opposite to the front wheels at low speeds, it dramatically reduces the turning radius, enhancing maneuverability. At high speeds, it turns them in the same direction, increasing stability. This technology is crucial for improving the agility of large civilian SUVs and trucks, as well as specialized, heavy military vehicles.
Schneider Electric Wiser System
The Wiser Home Energy System is a smart electrical panel and energy management solution. It integrates advanced electronics to monitor and control energy usage in real-time. The assembly and integration, particularly for the European market, leverages Schneider Electric's facility in Uccle (Brussels), combining globally sourced electronic components with locally produced enclosures and circuit protection devices.