B-Close

What B-Close does

B-CLOSE NV is the largest independent Belgian company in the distribution and maintenance of A-brand forklifts and warehouse material handling equipment, with roots extending over 50 years and headquarters in Mechelen, Belgium. The company operates a national network of 4 service branches (Harelbeke, Mechelen, Tienen, Namur) and 1 dedicated parts center, employs 240 people including 145+ VCA- and Sigma-certified field technicians, and is led by Managing Director Eric Maertens. B-CLOSE holds exclusive Belgian distribution rights for Hyster and is a preferred partner for eight other premium A-brands (Yale, Carer, Bulmor, OMG, Charlatte, Kärcher, JMG, Continental), enabling it to offer electric and thermal forklifts (capacities up to 48T for Hyster heavy-duty and 20T for Carer electric), reach trucks, order pickers, VNA trucks, AGVs, side loaders, terminal tractors, JMG pick-and-carry cranes up to 70T, aerial work platforms, and industrial cleaning machines including the autonomous Kärcher Kira robot.

The company's offering combines new and certified pre-owned equipment (Hyster Approved Used) sales, a 300+ unit rental fleet for short- and long-term rental, multi-year financial leasing, and a large after-sales services franchise. Revenue is generated across one-time equipment sales, recurring rental income, lease payments, and more than 4,000 service contracts spanning corrective, preventive, condition-based (big-data-driven), and power-by-the-hour engagements, supported by operator training and the SIGMACert certification program; 75% of end customers are on full-service or preventive contracts. Pricing is quote-based and customized per customer.

B-CLOSE serves 1,600+ customers across 13+ verticals including ports and terminals, steel, wood, automotive, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, building materials, retail, and e-commerce. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales (account managers covering Flanders and Wallonia) complemented by an e-commerce webshop for parts and consumables, an annual flagship event (B-CLOSE Intralogistic Day 2026 in Gent), and a bilingual (Dutch/French) digital presence. The company's competitive position rests on its exclusive Hyster franchise, national service density (4-hour response SLA), deep certified-technician bench, and a recurring-revenue service model that creates multi-year customer relationships.

Name

B-Close

Legal name

B-CLOSE NV

Website

https://b-close.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

B-CLOSE is the largest independent Belgian distributor and service provider of A-brand material handling equipment, holding exclusive Hyster distribution rights. From 5 locations and 240 employees with 145+ certified technicians, it serves 1,600+ industrial customers with sales, rental, leasing, and recurring maintenance contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Material Handling Equipment Distribution & Services

NAICS

Service Establishment Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42385), Construction and Mining (except Oil Well) Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42381), Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing (532411)

SIC

Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN)

Keywords

• Material handling equipment
• Forklift distribution
• Warehouse equipment
• Industrial maintenance services
• Equipment rental leasing

Headquarters

HQ city

Haren

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Forklift and warehouse truck sales (new and used): B-CLOSE sells new A-brand forklifts and warehouse trucks as well as certified used (Hyster Approved Used) equipment. One-time purchase revenue from the sale of equipment.
2. Rental / Verhuurvloot: Short- and long-term rental of forklifts and warehouse equipment from a fleet of approximately 300 rental trucks. Flexible rental contracts including weekly or monthly options, with full maintenance included.
3. Full-service maintenance contracts: B-CLOSE manages over 4,000 service contracts including corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance, full-service (condition-based maintenance), and power-by-the-hour contracts. Technicians perform weekly or periodic inspections and repairs within guaranteed response times (e.g., 4 hours).
4. Leasing: Financial leasing arrangements for forklift acquisition, allowing customers to spread costs over multi-year terms with B-CLOSE managing the asset.
5. Spare parts supply: Sale and supply of spare parts, accessories, batteries, chargers, tires (Continental), and consumables through a dedicated parts center.
6. Training and SIGMACert: Operator training and SIGMACert certification services for forklift operators.
7. Industrial cleaning solutions: Sale and rental of Kärcher industrial cleaning machines (including the Kira autonomous cleaning robot) and sweeping machines.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

B-Close distributes, rents, leases, and services A-brand forklifts and warehouse equipment in Belgium as the exclusive national distributor for Hyster and preferred partner for Yale, Carer, Bulmor, OMG, Charlatte, Kärcher, JMG, and Continental. Its offering combines new and certified used equipment sales, a 300-unit rental fleet, multi-year leasing, and a nationwide after-sales network of 145+ certified technicians delivering maintenance, repairs, parts, operator training, and SIGMACert certification under more than 4,000 service contracts.

Product overview

B-CLOSE is a full-service distributor and maintenance provider for forklift trucks and warehouse equipment in Belgium. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio spanning multiple product categories including electric and thermal forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, automated guided vehicles (AGV), side loaders, heavy-capacity trucks up to 48 tons, container handlers, terminal tractors, cranes, aerial work platforms, and industrial cleaning machines. They distribute premium A-brands including Hyster (exclusive Belgian distributor), Yale, Carer, Bulmor, Charlatte, JMG, OMG, Kärcher, and Continental. Their offering combines new equipment sales, a rental fleet of 300 trucks, certified pre-owned equipment, and extensive after-sales services including maintenance, repairs, parts supply, operator training, and full-service contracts (over 4,000 contracts). With 5 branches and more than 145 technicians, B-CLOSE provides nationwide coverage serving industries including ports, steel, wood, automotive, chemical, food, logistics, and retail across Belgium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hyster Forklift Trucks (including Hyster UT Series) Exclusive distribution in Belgium of Hyster forklift trucks, including heavy-duty models with lift capacities up to 48 tons, reachstackers, empty container handlers, and the Hyster UT Series. Designed for ports, heavy industry, and demanding applications where robustness and durability are required.
• Carer Electric Forklift Trucks Electric forklift trucks for heavy loads with lifting capacities up to 20 tons. Cited as the only provider of electric forklifts capable of 12-ton fully container-rideable operation. Designed for emission-free indoor and environmentally sensitive applications.
• Yale Forklift Trucks and Warehouse Equipment Intelligent warehouse trucks and forklifts from Yale, known for smart systems and warehouse automation capabilities. Part of Hyster's broader product portfolio.
• Bulmor Side Loaders Thermal side loaders (zijladers) for efficient and safe handling of long and bulky materials, providing robustness and speed without sacrificing maneuverability.
• Charlatte Tractors and Burden Carriers Reference brand for industrial tractors and burden carriers used in industrial settings.
• JMG Pick & Carry Cranes Pick and carry cranes capable of lifting up to 70 tons, with compact design and boom function to reach loads where traditional forklifts cannot operate.
• OMG Custom Forklift Trucks Warehouse equipment and stackers built 100% to customer specification, with stacking capacities up to 30 tons for handling heavy coils and unconventional loads.
• Kärcher Industrial Cleaning Machines Innovative industrial cleaning machines including the Kira autonomous cleaning robot, sweepers, scrubbers, high-pressure cleaners, and snow removal equipment for port, terminal, and production applications.
• Continental Industrial Tires Premium industrial tires for all applications with high load capacity, strong resistance to cutting and impact damage, low maintenance requirements, and reliable performance under heavy loads (including port operations).
• AGV Trucks (Automated Guided Vehicles) Automated guided vehicles for automated horizontal transport of pallets in warehouses and production environments.
• Reach Trucks, Order Pickers, VNA Trucks, Pallet Trucks, Stackers Standard warehouse-equipment categories (reach trucks for high-bay racking, order pickers for item picking at height, VNA trucks for narrow-aisle operation, electric/manual pallet trucks, and stackers) supplied under the distributed brand portfolio.
• Used / Certified Pre-owned Forklifts (Hyster Approved Used) Certified second-hand forklift trucks including the Hyster Approved Used program, sold with full service history and available with full-service contracts.
• Rental Fleet (Verhuurvloot) Rental of approximately 300 quality forklifts and warehouse trucks for short- and long-term rental. Flexible weekly or monthly terms with full maintenance included; targeted at customers needing fleet flexibility or peak-load capacity.
• Leasing Multi-year financial leasing arrangements for forklift and warehouse-equipment acquisition, allowing customers to spread costs while B-Close manages the asset and bundles maintenance and service.
• Maintenance Service (preventive, corrective, condition-based) Preventive and corrective maintenance delivered by 145+ certified technicians (VCA & Sigma) across Belgium, with weekly inspections, guaranteed 4-hour repair response, and big-data-driven condition-based maintenance for large fleets.
• Full-Service and Power-by-the-Hour Contracts More than 4,000 full-service contracts covering preventive maintenance, repairs, and rapid response; power-by-the-hour contracts tie maintenance costs to operating hours for large fleets.
• Repair Services Fast repair services by certified technicians to keep equipment operational, with guaranteed response times (e.g., 4 hours) and weekend coverage on contracted fleets.
• Spare Parts Supply Genuine replacement parts, accessories, batteries, chargers, Continental tires, and consumables supplied through a dedicated parts center and online webshop for all supported equipment brands.
• Operator Training and SIGMACert Certification Operator training services for safe and efficient use of forklift trucks and warehouse equipment, and B-Close SIGMACert certification for equipment and operator standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 4,000 service contracts managed nationally
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HystercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE is the exclusive Belgian distributor (exclusieve verdeler) for Hyster trucks, one of the world's largest forklift and container handler manufacturers. Hyster products include heavy forklifts (up to 48T), reachstackers, empty container handlers, and electric trucks. B-CLOSE also distributes the Hyster UT Series.
• YalecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE distributes Yale forklifts and intelligent warehouse equipment. Yale is known for smart warehouse solutions and is part of Hyster's product portfolio.
• CarercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE distributes Carer electric forklifts, known for heavy-capacity electric trucks (up to 20T lifting capacity). Carer is cited as the only provider of electric forklifts capable of 12T fully container-rideable operation. Key brand for electrifiction of material handling.
• BulmorcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE is a preferred partner of Bulmor, a specialist in sideloaders (zijladers) for handling long and bulky materials. Bulmor thermal sideloaders are designed for efficient and safe movement of long materials.
• OMG (Industrial Vehicles)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE is a preferred partner for OMG warehouse trucks built 100% to customer specification. OMG specializes in custom-built forklifts and warehouse equipment including stackers with lifting capacities up to 30T.
• CharlatteminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE is a preferred partner of Charlatte, the reference brand for tractors and burden carriers used in industrial settings.
• KärchercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE is a preferred partner for Kärcher industrial cleaning machines including sweepers, scrubbers, high-pressure cleaners, and the Kira autonomous cleaning robot. B-CLOSE serves as an official distributor for Kärcher products in Belgium.
• JMG (Crane)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE is a preferred partner of JMG, which produces pick & carry cranes capable of lifting up to 70T. JMG cranes fill the gap where traditional forklifts fall short for exceptionally heavy lifts.
• ContinentalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB-CLOSE is an official distributor of Continental premium industrial tires for all applications. Continental develops tires for port operations with high load capacity, resistance to cutting and impact damage, and reliable performance under heavy loads.
• Fabriek Logistiek (event venue partner)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerB-CLOSE partners with Fabriek Logistiek in Gent as the venue for its annual B-CLOSE Intralogistic Day trade event (17 September 2026). Fabriek Logistiek is a logistics exhibition/showroom venue.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hyster-Yale Materials Handling: OEM parent of Hyster and Yale, of which B-CLOSE is the exclusive Belgian Hyster distributor and a Yale partner. Relevant as the global manufacturer whose product strategy, distributor awards, and brand investments directly shape B-CLOSE's competitive position.
• Crown Equipment Corporation: US-based material handling manufacturer with a strong dealer/service footprint in Europe. Competes for the same warehouse, retail, and logistics customers with electric forklifts and warehouse trucks, often combining sales with full-service fleet management agreements akin to B-CLOSE's contracts.
• Linde Material Handling (KION Group): Premium forklift brand within KION, operating direct dealer/service networks and full-service forklift contracts across Europe. Competes head-to-head with Hyster for industrial and port accounts and overlaps directly with B-CLOSE's full-service maintenance and rental model.
• Manitou Group: French OEM of material handling, aerial work platforms, and telescopic handlers with an international dealer/service network. Overlaps with B-CLOSE's aerial work platform and telehandler lines and competes for the same construction and industrial accounts.
• STILL (KION Group): Sibling Linde-brand within KION with a strong Benelux dealer/service presence. Offers a comparable mix of new equipment sales, used equipment, short-term rental fleets, and full-service maintenance contracts targeting industrial and logistics customers.
• Toyota Material Handling Europe: One of the world's largest forklift OEMs with an extensive authorized dealer and service network across Europe. Comparable as a multi-brand material handling equipment and service provider competing for the same industrial, warehouse, and port customers that B-CLOSE serves in Belgium.
• Jungheinrich: German intralogistics major offering forklifts, warehouse trucks, racks, and a large direct sales/service network in Benelux. Mirrors B-CLOSE's combination of equipment sales, rental/used equipment, and full-service maintenance contracts, but at a much larger European scale.
• Cat Lift Trucks: Mid-to-heavy forklift OEM distributed through a European dealer network. Competes for industrial, ports, and warehousing customers with a comparable mix of equipment sales, service contracts, and parts supply.

Emerging players

• Hangcha Group: Chinese forklift OEM rapidly expanding in Europe via dealer partnerships. Represents a price-disciplined challenger for the entry- to mid-capacity forklift segment where B-CLOSE and its A-brand partners compete.
• Combilift: Irish niche manufacturer specializing in multi-directional forklifts, side-loaders, and long-load handling equipment — categories where B-CLOSE already sells Bulmor side loaders. A growing European competitor targeting the same wood, steel, and long-material customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BCLOSEFORKLIFTS
• Facebookfacebook.com/BCLOSE.nvsa
• LinkedInbe.linkedin.com/company/b-close-nv-sa
• Instagraminstagram.com/bclose_nvsa
• Xx.com/BCLOSE_nvsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about B-Close