ADLC
ADLC is a Belgian drone logistics operator providing BVLOS autonomous cargo drone delivery services for industrial customers in ports, petrochemical sites, and offshore environments, with proprietary Operations Control Center software and integrated regulatory approvals across the EU and APAC.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersAntwerpen, Belgium
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ADLC does
ADLC (A Drone Logistics Company BV) is a privately held Belgian drone logistics operator founded in 2021 and headquartered in Antwerp, with additional operations in Sint-Truiden (MRO at DronePort) and Singapore. The company provides BVLOS autonomous cargo drone delivery services for industrial customers in ports, offshore environments, and chemical sites, transporting up to 15 kg payloads over distances up to 50 km, including dangerous goods such as petrochemical analysis samples. Its technology stack combines an aircraft-agnostic fleet (anchored on Phoenix-Wings PW.Orca drones) with proprietary software: the ADLC Portal for transport management and the Operations Control Center (OCC) for remote flight monitoring, which exposes APIs for UTM, drone control software, and customer logistics integration. The company holds the first Light UAS Operator Certificate in Belgium covering dangerous goods and the first UAS Operator Permit for dangerous goods in Singapore/APAC, supported by BCAA BVLOS authorization across a 12.5 km stretch of the Port of Antwerp-Bruges.
ADLC operates a B2B enterprise sales motion targeting oil, gas and chemicals customers, port operators, and offshore energy companies. Its lead offering, SAMPLIFLY, is delivered jointly with SGS and transports petrochemical samples from BASF, Vopak and Noord Natie/Odfjell terminals to SGS laboratories, achieving 6x faster transport and 80% CO2 reduction versus road. Revenue is generated through custom enterprise contracts (quote-based, pay-as-you-go or recurring) for drone transportation services and BVLOS flight operations. Strategic investors include Port of Antwerp-Bruges, LRM, Galactic Beacon Ventures, and NXT II, providing the company with privileged port access, airspace, and infrastructure. The company is pursuing international expansion (Singapore active; Argentina, France, Cyprus, Oman in pipeline) and has launched additional capabilities including a city-port AAM hub in Antwerp, night-time operations, and in-house MRO.
ADLC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ADLC
- Legal name
- A Drone Logistics Company BV
- Website
- https://adlc.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ADLC is a Belgian drone logistics operator providing BVLOS autonomous cargo drone delivery services for industrial customers in ports, petrochemical sites, and offshore environments, with proprietary Operations Control Center software and integrated regulatory approvals across the EU and APAC.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ADLC industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Drone Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)
- SIC
- Air Courier Services (4513)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Time-Critical Air Charter & On-Demand Air Freight (TLADANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure (IMABAIAL)
Keywords
Where ADLC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Antwerpen
- HQ country
- Belgium
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
ADLC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Drone Transportation Services: ADLC provides on-demand cargo drone delivery services for industrial companies. The company operates its own drone fleet and charges for transportation services, likely on a per-delivery or subscription basis. Services include transport of petrochemical samples, dangerous goods, and general cargo within port and industrial environments.
- BVLOS Flight Operations: Beyond Visual Line of Sight drone operations with authorization to fly without observers, including night-time operations. Services include transport of dangerous goods up to 15kg payload and 50km range.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom enterprise pricing based on delivery volume and operational requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
ADLC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ADLC provides B2B autonomous drone cargo transportation services for industrial companies operating in ports, offshore environments, and petrochemical facilities. Using BVLOS operations and a proprietary Operations Control Center (OCC) and ADLC Portal, the company transports time-critical cargo up to 15 kg across distances up to 50 km, including dangerous goods and petrochemical analysis samples. The integrated Drone Delivery Network infrastructure delivers 24/7 express delivery with up to 6x faster transport times and 80% lower CO2 emissions compared to road transport.
Product overview
ADLC (A Drone Logistics Company) offers a B2B drone logistics platform providing instant cargo drone delivery services for industrial companies. The core offering includes drone-based transportation powered by an aircraft-agnostic fleet (including Phoenix-Wings PW.ORCA), supported by the proprietary ADLC Portal for transport management and the Operations Control Center (OCC) for real-time flight monitoring and BVLOS operations. The company operates the Drone Delivery Network—a comprehensive infrastructure of landing pads and vertiports—offering cargo transport up to 15 kg over distances up to 50 km with 24/7 capabilities including night operations. MRO Operations at DronePort ensure fleet airworthiness. Services handle diverse cargo including petrochemical samples and dangerous goods, achieving 6-fold efficiency and 80% CO2 reduction vs. road transport. Major regulatory milestones include Belgium's first LUC for dangerous goods transport across EU and APAC's first UAS Operator Permit for dangerous goods in Singapore.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Drone Cargo Delivery Service (SAMPLIFLY) B2B drone transportation service for industrial cargo including petrochemical analysis samples, dangerous goods, and time-critical deliveries within port and offshore environments. Operates 24/7 with BVLOS flights up to 50 km and payloads up to 15 kg.
- ADLC Portal Proprietary online platform for product and transportation management giving customers full control over their deliveries, including order requests, flight planning, remote drone starting, and real-time flight tracking. Includes APIs for UTM and customer logistics integration.
- Operations Control Center (OCC) Central proprietary control system from which all drone flights are monitored and managed remotely in real-time by pilots, with Man-Machine Interfaces, APIs for UTM and drone control software integration, and full flight management capabilities.
- Drone Delivery Network Integrated network infrastructure of landing pads, communication systems, drones, and vertiports enabling ultra-fast BVLOS drone cargo delivery services across industrial environments. Currently covers 5 landing sites across both banks of the Scheldt River with plans for 8+.
- MRO Operations at DronePort Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul services for ADLC's drone fleet at the DronePort campus in Sint-Truiden, including validation flights and airworthiness certification, critical for scaling daily commercial drone delivery operations.
Quantifiable outcome
- Transport time reduced by up to 6x compared to traditional road transport for petrochemical sample deliveries
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ADLC
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ADLC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
Feature4 records
ADLC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core partner, strategic, technology partner, advisory, infrastructure partner, core customer/partner and customer.
- SGScore partnerWorld's leading testing, inspection and certification company. Partnership for SAMPLIFLY service transporting (petro)chemical analysis samples by drone to SGS laboratory. SGS analyzes 60,000+ samples annually for port clients. Eight months of successful operations as of April 2025.
- Vopakcore partnerGlobal tank storage company. Partnership with SGS and ADLC for SAMPLIFLY at Vopak ACS terminals. Expansion planned to Vopak Terminal Linkeroever, extending network to left bank of Scheldt.
- Phoenix-Wings GmbHstrategicDrone manufacturer providing PW.Orca drone platform. After extensive market research, Phoenix-Wings was selected as the ideal platform for SAMPLIFLY service. Commits to support ADLC in international deployment of express delivery services.
- SkeyDronetechnology partnerJoint venture between skeyes and Brussels Airport Company. Provides BVLOS framework ensuring safety and efficiency of drone operations in complex airspace. Key partner for U-space implementation in Belgium.
- Unifly ConsultingadvisoryProvided expertise, guidance, and commitment throughout LUC certification process. ADLC extends gratitude for support in achieving certification for dangerous goods transport.
- DronePortinfrastructure partnerDronePort business campus in Sint-Truiden provides ideal environment for ADLC's MRO activities. State-of-the-art testing facilities with dedicated airspace. Strategic location in heart of Europe for international expansion.
- BASF Antwerpen NVcore customer/partnerWorld's leading chemical products manufacturer. Second-largest BASF production site worldwide. Served by SGS for 6,000+ analysis samples annually. Partner in Samplifly project enabling drone transport of petrochemical samples. Contributed to sustainable innovation with economic advantages.
- Noord Natie / Odfjell Antwerp TerminalcustomerPort terminal operator connected to ADLC's drone delivery network for time-critical cargo transport services.
- PwC - Next LeveladvisoryFinancial and fundraising advisors supporting ADLC's €2.6 million fundraising process to scale operations and deploy international Drone Delivery Networks.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights7 records
ADLC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Zipline: Operates BVLOS autonomous drone delivery networks for medical supplies and industrial logistics, including time-critical cargo in Africa and the US. Closest direct comparable to ADLC's autonomous, on-demand B2B industrial cargo model.
- Matternet: Operates certified BVLOS drone delivery networks for medical samples and industrial parts across hospital and enterprise campuses in the US, EU, and APAC. Directly comparable on B2B medical/industrial drone logistics, regulatory certification focus, and enterprise customer model.
- Manna Aero: Dublin-based drone delivery operator flying BVLOS in European suburban environments. Comparable as a European BVLOS drone logistics operator pursuing enterprise and last-mile customers, with similar regulatory engagement strategy.
- Dronamics: Bulgarian operator of long-range, heavy-payload cargo drones (the 'Black Swan') targeting middle-mile logistics. Closely comparable to ADLC's focus on cargo drones for time-critical industrial freight rather than last-mile parcels.
- Swoop Aero: Australia-based drone logistics operator with operations in APAC and Africa, focused on medical and essential supplies delivery. Comparable on autonomous BVLOS cargo operations and similar target verticals (healthcare, industrial).
Broad incumbents
- Wing (Alphabet): Alphabet-owned drone delivery service operating at scale across multiple countries. Although primarily focused on consumer/retail last-mile rather than industrial cargo, it is the most mature commercial BVLOS drone delivery operator and sets competitive benchmarks.
- DHL Express (Drone Delivery): Global logistics integrator operating its own drone delivery trials (e.g., Parcelcopter) and partnering with specialized drone operators. Represents both a potential competitor and partner for ADLC's industrial cargo use cases.
Emerging players
- Elroy Air: US-based developer of large hybrid-electric VTOL cargo drones for middle-mile logistics. Comparable as a cargo-focused drone platform pursuing commercial operations, though at a different payload class than ADLC's PW.Orca fleet.
- Sabrewing Aircraft: Developer of large unmanned cargo aircraft for time-critical logistics. Adjacent comparable on the cargo drone platform side, though not yet in commercial operations at ADLC's scale.
- Skyports (Infrastructure / Drone Services): UK-based operator of vertiport infrastructure and drone services for cargo and passenger use cases. Comparable as a complementary player building the drone delivery ecosystem (including BVLOS and medical logistics) in Europe and APAC.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ADLC social profiles
Digital presenceADLC compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
ADLC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ADLC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ADLC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ADLC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ADLC
What does ADLC do?
ADLC provides B2B autonomous drone cargo transportation services for industrial companies operating in ports, offshore environments, and petrochemical facilities. Using BVLOS operations and a proprietary Operations Control Center (OCC) and ADLC Portal, the company transports time-critical cargo up to 15 kg across distances up to 50 km, including dangerous goods and petrochemical analysis samples. The integrated Drone Delivery Network infrastructure delivers 24/7 express delivery with up to 6x faster transport times and 80% lower CO2 emissions compared to road transport.
Is ADLC a public or private company?
ADLC is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was ADLC founded?
ADLC was founded in 2021. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ADLC based?
ADLC is headquartered in Antwerpen, Belgium, in the Europe region.
How does ADLC make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Drone Transportation Services are the primary driver. The others are BVLOS Flight Operations.
Who are ADLC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Zipline, Matternet, Manna Aero, Dronamics and Swoop Aero. Broad incumbents are Wing (Alphabet) and DHL Express (Drone Delivery). Emerging players are Elroy Air, Sabrewing Aircraft and Skyports (Infrastructure / Drone Services).
Does ADLC have an API?
No public API is recorded for ADLC.
What industry is ADLC in?
ADLC's product category is Industrial Drone Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLADANAA, Time-Critical Air Charter & On-Demand Air Freight, with a secondary code of IMABAIAL, UAS Ground Control Stations (GCS) & Remote Operations Infrastructure. Its NAICS code is 481212 and its SIC code is 4513.