Vanderlande

Vanderlande is a Dutch industrial technology and logistics automation company headquartered in Veghel. It designs, integrates, supplies and supports automated systems used to move, sort, store and control goods, baggage and parcels. Its principal customer environments are airports, warehouses and parcel-distribution facilities. The company combines mechanical handling equipment, control systems, software, engineering, project delivery and long-term service rather than selling a single standardized machine or consumer product. The business originated in 1949, when Eddie van der Lande established Machinefabriek Van der Lande near the Veghel canal. The early company manufactured unloading equipment, conveyors, cranes and related machinery for different industrial applications. A major change came in 1963, when it formed a partnership with the American company Rapistan. The arrangement gave the Dutch business access to automated material-handling technology and led to the name Rapistan Lande. In 1988, Dutch management and private investors acquired the company through a management buyout. The following year it adopted the Vanderlande name. From the late 1980s onward, airport automation became increasingly important to the company. Airports were investing in more sophisticated baggage-handling infrastructure, security controls and automated sorting, creating demand for integrated systems capable of handling high volumes while maintaining traceability. Airport security concerns intensified after the attacks of September 11, 2001, and Vanderlande concentrated a substantial part of its operations on airport equipment and related services. Its airport business subsequently expanded internationally, with baggage-handling installations serving hundreds of airports. Vanderlande also operates in warehouse automation and parcel logistics. Its systems can include conveyors, sorters, storage and retrieval equipment, robotic or shuttle-based solutions, pallet and case handling, order-fulfilment technologies, warehouse-control software and fleet-management tools. These systems are used by retailers, e-commerce operators, manufacturers, logistics providers, postal organizations and parcel carriers. Software is an increasingly important part of the offering because customers require orchestration of equipment, real-time visibility, optimization and lifecycle support. In March 2017, Toyota Industries Corporation announced an agreement to acquire Vanderlande for ¥140 billion, reported at the time as approximately €1.2 billion. The transaction was completed on May 20, 2017, and Vanderlande became a subsidiary of the Japanese industrial group. The ownership change connected Vanderlande with Toyota Industries' broader material-handling and industrial activities while preserving Vanderlande as a specialized logistics-automation business. The company reported revenue of €2.2 billion for 2022, according to the cited Wikipedia reference, and was described there as the world's fourth-largest material-handling-systems supplier. Vanderlande has its headquarters and an innovation center in Veghel, together with production, engineering and service operations in several European, Asian, African, North American and Australian locations. In 2024, the company stated or was described as serving more than 600 airports worldwide, including 17 of the 25 largest airports at that time. Andrew Manship became chief executive officer on January 1, 2024, succeeding Remo Brunschwiler. The brand remains active as a global business-to-business automation provider.

Vanderlande traces its origins to 1949, when Eddie van der Lande founded Machinefabriek Van der Lande in Veghel, Netherlands. The original business operated near the Veghel canal and produced unloading equipment, conveyors, cranes and other machinery for a range of industrial uses. Its early identity was therefore that of a general machinery manufacturer rather than the specialized logistics-automation brand known today. In 1963, the company entered a partnership with Rapistan, an American material-handling company. Through the arrangement, the Dutch business obtained access to automated material-handling systems and related know-how in exchange for a stakeholding. The company subsequently operated under the name Rapistan Lande. This relationship helped move the business toward engineered automation for the handling and movement of goods. A management buyout in 1988 transferred ownership to Dutch management and private investors. In 1989, the company adopted the Vanderlande name. During the late 1980s and subsequent decades, airport systems became a central area of activity. Airports were seeking more automated and secure ways to process baggage, and Vanderlande developed into a major supplier of baggage-handling infrastructure. Security investment increased further after the September 11 attacks, reinforcing the importance of automated screening, sorting, routing and tracking in airport operations. The company expanded beyond airports into warehousing and parcel distribution. Its work in these sectors has included the design and integration of conveyors, sorters, storage systems, fulfilment technologies, controls and software. Rather than focusing only on individual machines, Vanderlande generally delivers complete operational systems and supports them over their working life. Its geographic footprint grew to include locations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, China, India, South Africa and the United States. In March 2017, Toyota Industries Corporation announced that it would acquire Vanderlande for ¥140 billion, an amount reported at the time as almost €1.2 billion. The transaction closed on May 20, 2017. Vanderlande thereafter continued as a subsidiary of Toyota Industries while maintaining its own specialist brand and operating focus in logistics automation. For 2022, the company reported revenue of €2.2 billion in the cited reference material. The same material characterized Vanderlande as the world's fourth-largest supplier of material-handling systems. By 2024, more than 600 airports were using Vanderlande baggage-handling systems, including 17 of the 25 largest airports in the world according to the reference. In April 2023, the company announced a planned chief-executive transition: Andrew Manship was to succeed Remo Brunschwiler from January 1, 2024. Vanderlande remains an active international supplier of automation systems and associated software and services.

1. 2024Andrew Manship becomes chief executive

   Andrew Manship succeeds Remo Brunschwiler as chief executive officer on January 1.

   Source
2. 2017Toyota Industries acquisition completed

   Toyota Industries completes its acquisition of Vanderlande on May 20, following the announcement of the deal in March.

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3. 1989Vanderlande name adopted

   The company changes its name from Rapistan Lande to Vanderlande.

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4. 1988Management buyout

   Dutch management and private investors acquire Rapistan Lande through a management buyout.

   Source
5. 1963Rapistan partnership begins

   The company partners with American firm Rapistan and gains access to automated material-handling systems and technology.

   Source
6. 1949Machinefabriek Van der Lande is founded

   Eddie van der Lande establishes a machinery business in Veghel producing unloading equipment, conveyors, cranes and related industrial machinery.

   Source

Integrated, high-throughput logistics automation partner for airports, warehouses and parcel-distribution operations, combining equipment, software, systems integration and lifecycle services.

• Airport baggage-handling systemsAirport automation

  Integrated systems for receiving, screening, sorting, routing and transporting checked baggage through airports. These installations combine conveyors, sortation, controls, tracking and operational software and are designed for high throughput, security requirements and connection with airline and airport processes.

• Parcel sorting systemsParcel logistics

  Automated equipment and software for handling parcels in distribution hubs. Solutions can support induction, identification, routing, sequencing and dispatch, helping parcel operators process large and variable volumes with reduced manual handling.

• Warehouse automationWarehouse logistics

  Warehouse solutions spanning conveyors, storage and retrieval, shuttle systems, order fulfilment, case and pallet handling, controls and software. Vanderlande delivers these technologies as integrated systems for retailers, e-commerce businesses, manufacturers and logistics providers.

• ADAPTOAutomated storage and retrieval

  An automated storage and retrieval solution used within warehouse environments. It is associated with high-density storage and software-directed movement of goods, forming part of Vanderlande's wider fulfilment and warehouse-automation portfolio.

• FLEETLogistics software

  A software offering associated with the coordination and management of automated logistics operations. It supports the orchestration of equipment and workflows, helping operators manage material movement and obtain operational visibility across an automated facility.

• 2023Announce chief-executive successionStrategy

  Vanderlande planned a change in its senior leadership after Remo Brunschwiler's tenure as chief executive.

  What changed. The company announced that Andrew Manship would succeed Remo Brunschwiler, effective January 1, 2024.

  Aftermath. Manship became chief executive at the start of 2024.

  Source
• 2017Join Toyota IndustriesM&A

  Vanderlande had developed into an international supplier of airport, warehouse and parcel-handling automation.

  What changed. Toyota Industries agreed to acquire Vanderlande for ¥140 billion; the transaction closed on May 20, 2017.

  Aftermath. Vanderlande became a subsidiary of Toyota Industries while continuing to operate under its established specialist brand.

  Acquisition consideration. ¥140 billion (Announced March 2017; completed May 20, 2017)

  Source
• 1988Complete management buyoutM&A

  The company was operating as Rapistan Lande after its technology partnership with Rapistan.

  What changed. Dutch management and private investors acquired the business through a management buyout.

  Aftermath. The business returned to Dutch ownership and adopted the Vanderlande name the following year.

  Source
• 1963Enter partnership with RapistanStrategy

  The original machinery business sought access to automated material-handling technology and systems expertise.

  What changed. Vanderlande entered a partnership with American company Rapistan in exchange for a stakeholding and subsequently operated as Rapistan Lande.

  Aftermath. The relationship helped shift the company toward automated material handling and laid groundwork for its later logistics-automation specialization.

  Source

• 2023Andrew Manship appointed to succeed Remo Brunschwiler as CEO

  Vanderlande announced that Andrew Manship would replace Remo Brunschwiler as chief executive, with the leadership change taking effect on January 1, 2024.

  Leadership change
  Source
• 2017Toyota Industries announces acquisition of Vanderlande

  Toyota Industries Corporation announced an agreement to acquire Vanderlande for ¥140 billion, reported at the time as nearly €1.2 billion.

  M&A
  Source
• 2017Toyota Industries completes Vanderlande acquisition

  The acquisition of Vanderlande by Toyota Industries was completed on May 20, 2017, making the Dutch automation company a subsidiary of the Japanese group.

  M&A
  Source
• 2017Toyota Industries Corporation acquires Vanderlande

  Vanderlande became part of Toyota Industries Corporation through an acquisition. The transaction changed the company's ownership while preserving Vanderlande as an operating brand in logistics-process automation.

  M&A
  Source

1. Vanderlande
2. Vanderlande official website