Vlotter

What Vlotter does

Vlotter is a Belgian social enterprise (sociale onderneming) headquartered in Boom, operating as a cooperative (cvba) with non-profit (vzw) subsidiaries, founded in 1964 and rebranded from IMSIR in 2017. With more than 400 employees, it delivers an unusually broad portfolio spanning custom manufacturing, facilities services, transport, home care, welfare support, and hospitality across the Rupelstreek region (Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, Rumst), with adjacent reach into Mechelen and Lier.

The core industrial operations run out of a 3,500 m² manufacturing site in Boom. Vlotter Maatwerk operates three full bicycle assembly lines with wheel-spoking, alignment, and tire-fitting machines producing children's, women's, and men's bicycles for national and international buyers; the TRIM division has run an exclusive reverse logistics contract with Telenet Group for more than 15 years, sorting, testing, refurbishing and repackaging approximately 1 million decoders and modems annually; and Enclave Diensten deploys supervised on-site teams at client facilities for production peaks in food, logistics, events, and waste collection. Facilities services include B2B cleaning, green maintenance, painting, and a sports/play equipment rental webshop. Vervoer comprises adapted transport (Rolkar Rivierenland, operating 06:30–24:00 across Boom/Mechelen/Lier) and the volunteer-driven Mobitwin Rupelstreek for less-mobile residents. Thuiszorg delivers income-scaled family and elderly care, night care (via Nachtzorg Mechelen), cleaning assistance, Pluxee service cheques (€10/hour + €1.50 fee), and a fixed-rate €25/hour handyman service.

Vlotter is governed by representatives of the five founding municipalities and OCMWs; there is no venture or private equity ownership. Revenue is generated through service contracts with businesses (notably Telenet), municipal and government facilities work, government-subsidized home care, retail/hospitality at eetcafé 't Steencaycken and Buurthuis Boomkewies (meals at social tariff), and externally funded programs including Digibanken Rupelaar (Flemish/EU NextGenerationEU) and UPLOAD+ (Europa WSE). Recent strategic moves include the FestiWaste product launch in 2025, a 30-year hospitality concession at the Pastorie in Niel (opening spring 2026), and a first de-paving project with Provincie Antwerpen in 2025.

Name

Vlotter

Legal name

Vlotter cvba

Website

https://www.vlotter.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Vlotter is a Belgian social enterprise cooperative employing more than 400 people across custom manufacturing, facilities services, transport, home care, welfare support, and hospitality, serving the Rupelstreek municipalities and adjacent regions while providing employment to people facing labor market barriers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boom

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Maatwerk Productie (Manufacturing Production): Vlotter Maatwerk produces quality production work and services for businesses and organizations, including bike and wheel building, TRIM/refurbishment, and enclave work teams. Revenue is generated through service contracts and project-based billing to corporate clients.
2. Maatwerk Diensten (Facilities Services): Cleaning, green maintenance, painting, and equipment rental services for businesses and local governments. Billed per contract or project.
3. Vervoer (Transport Services): Specialized transport services for people with reduced mobility, including Rolkar Rivierenland and Mobitwin Rupelstreek. Revenue generated through service contracts, membership fees, and per-kilometer charges.
4. Thuiszorg (Home Care): Family and elderly care, night care, cleaning help, service cheques, and handyman services for residents of Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, and Rumst. Revenue partly subsidized through government schemes, supplemented by income-based hourly contributions.
5. Horeca & Catering: Hospitality operations including eetcafé 't Steencaycken, Buurthuis Boomkewies (meals at social tariff), and Vlotter beer. Revenue from food and beverage sales to consumers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vlotter is a Belgian social enterprise (cvba with vzw subsidiaries) that delivers customized manufacturing (bicycle assembly, electronic device refurbishment, packaging), facilities services (cleaning, green maintenance, painting), adapted transport, home care, welfare, and hospitality services. Its core differentiator is providing meaningful employment to people facing labor-market barriers while serving businesses, local governments, and individual residents across the Rupelstreek region.

Product overview

Vlotter is a social enterprise (sociale onderneming) with more than 400 employees, operating as a multi-service organization serving the Rupelstreek region (municipalities of Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, and Rumst). The organization is structured into three legal entities: Vlotter CV (the coordinating body), Vlotter Maatwerk vzw (production and facilities), and Vlotter Facilities vzw (transport). The product and service portfolio is organized into two production divisions — Maatwerk-Productie and Maatwerk-Diensten — plus four operational service lines: Maatwerk-Productie includes Fiets- en wielbouw (bicycle and wheel building), Service & Solutions (packaging and assembly), TRIM (electronics recycling and reverse logistics for Telenet), and Enclave Diensten (flexible workforce enclaves); Maatwerk-Diensten includes Schoonmaak (cleaning), Groenonderhoud (green maintenance), Schilderwerken (painting), and Verhuurdienst sport- en spelmateriaal (sports equipment rental); Thuiszorg (home care) includes Gezins- en Ouderenzorg, Nachtzorg, Poetshulp, Dienstencheques, and Klusdienst; and Welzijn (wellbeing) includes CAW, Tewerkstellingsdienst, Sociale Dienst, Collectieve Schuldenregeling, Juridische Hulp, Digibanken Rupelaar, and Wijk-Werken. Vervoer (transport) includes Mobitwin Rupelstreek and Rolkar Rivierenland. Horeca (hospitality) includes Vlotter Bier, 't Steencaycken eat-café, and Buurthuis Boomkewies community center. A notable product innovation is FestiWaste, a complete trash bag system for events launched in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Vlotter bier: Stevig blond streekbier (8,5% alcohol) brewed at De Klem brewery in Niel
• 't Steencaycken
• Buurthuis Boomkewies
• TRIM
• FestiWaste
• Mobitwin
• Rolkar Rivierenland
• Digibanken Rupelaar

Products and services

• Fiets- en wielbouw (Bicycle & Wheel Building) Bicycle and wheel manufacturing and refurbishment service operating three full assembly lines (children's, ladies', men's) with wheel-spoking, alignment, and tire-fitting machines; serves national and international customers and offers corporate bike-plan solutions.
• Service & Solutions (Packaging & Assembly) Manual and machine-based packaging, repackaging, assembly, and shipping for client products, including display assembly, gift baskets, goodie bags, electrical component assembly, and mailings with flexible staffing and deadline adherence.
• TRIM (Electronics Recycling & Reverse Logistics) Recycling of electrical devices, calibration for analog and digital applications, assembly and wiring of electrical/electronic units, wire cutting/stripping, and extension-cord and cable assembly. Operates as Telenet's reverse-logistics center for decoders and modems since 2007.
• Enclave Diensten (On-site Enclave Workforce) Flexible temporary or permanent workforce solutions deployed within client companies under a supervisor, used for production peaks, packaging issues, or structural staffing needs across food, container loading/unloading, logistics, litter collection, and event setup.
• FestiWaste Event Waste Bag System Complete trash bag system for events developed and produced internally by Vlotter; designed for temporary infrastructure such as parcours, access roads, and event zones where fixed bins cannot be used; VLAREMA-compliant and suitable for residual waste and PMD streams.
• Schoonmaak (Cleaning Services) Professional B2B cleaning for common areas, hallways, stairwells, and public spaces targeting businesses and public institutions in the Rupelstreek region; not available to private individuals.
• Groenonderhoud (Green Maintenance) Professional garden and green-area maintenance for businesses and local governments, including bed maintenance, lawn mowing, hedge trimming, shrub and tree pruning, and litter removal, supported by qualified supervisors and an extensive machine fleet.
• Schilderwerken (Painting Services) Interior painting for businesses and private individuals, ranging from small walls to large-scale projects such as social rental offices and common areas in apartment complexes.
• Verhuurdienst Sport- en Spelmateriaal (Sports & Game Equipment Rental) Rental service for sports and play equipment delivered to schools and associations from member municipalities (Aartselaar, Boom, Niel, Puurs-Sint-Amands, Rumst, Schelle, Willebroek) via a dedicated webshop, with logistics staff handling delivery and collection.
• Vlotter Bier (Regional Tripel Beer) A strong, blonde regional beer (8.5% alcohol) with fruity aroma, brewed at De Klem brewery in Niel using 100% organic barley malt and Belgian Cascade hops; available on-premise at 't Steencaycken.
• 't Steencaycken (Eat-café) Cozy eat-café in Boom offering nostalgic brasserie cuisine in an authentic setting along the Rupeldijk, with views over the water.
• Buurthuis Boomkewies (Community Center) Community center in Boom offering warm meals at social rates (€5 adults, €3 children; €11 eat-in or €10 take-away for external visitors), a polyvalent hall for rent, and openings Monday through Friday 12:00–17:00.
• Mobitwin Rupelstreek (Adapted Transport Membership Service) Transportation service for people with mobility limitations and limited income who cannot use public transport; voluntary drivers transport members to their destinations across Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, Rumst, and Schelle.
• Rolkar Rivierenland (Public Adapted Transport) Recognized public adapted transport for persons with disabilities or severely limited mobility, including wheelchair users, available 7 days a week from 06:30 to 24:00 in the Boom, Mechelen, and Lier regions.
• Gezins- en Ouderenzorg (Family & Elderly Home Care) Personal care (bathing, dressing, hair care), household tasks (cooking, washing, ironing, shopping), administration support, and companionship for residents of Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, and Rumst, priced on a ministerial income-based scale.
• Nachtzorg (Specialized Night Care) Specialized non-medical night-time care (22:00 to 07:00) in clients' own homes for people with dementia, chronic illness, age-related functional loss, or palliative situations, delivered in partnership with Nachtzorg Mechelen at a flat rate of €4/hour.
• Poetshulp (Home Cleaning Assistance) Regular home-maintenance cleaning for elderly residents of Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, and Rumst, including floor mopping, dusting, vacuuming, window washing, furniture maintenance, bathroom and kitchen cleaning, door washing, and ironing.
• Dienstencheques (Service Voucher Household Help) Household help purchased using service vouchers (dienstencheques) at €10/hour, plus a €1.50 per-hour surcharge, for residents of Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, and Rumst, with cheques purchased through Pluxee.
• Klusdienst (Handyman Services) Handyman services for elderly, persons with disabilities, and families in difficulty in Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, and Rumst, including painting, furniture assembly, home emptying, deep cleaning, mobility adaptations, and small repairs, billed at €25 per started working hour.
• Digibanken Rupelaar (Digital Inclusion Program) Digital inclusion initiative coordinated by Vlotter in collaboration with local partners, offering free digital assistance, open computer rooms, laptop lending, and digital-skills training; part of the Flemish Digibankenprogramma funded by the Flemish Government and the European Union NextGenerationEU.
• Wijk-Werken (Neighborhood Work Program) Neighborhood work program offering job seekers not ready for the regular labor market various tasks including garden maintenance, minor repairs, logistics support, administrative assistance, and transport for persons with limited mobility, available for private individuals, local governments, educational institutions, non-profits, and agricultural businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 1 million Telenet devices are given a second life per year through Vlotter's reverse logistics operations.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VDABcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024VDAB is a key partner in the UPLOAD+ project — a local partnership initiative for people distanced from the labor market in the Rupelstreek. VDAB collaborates with CAW, Arktos, Emino, Vlotter, Ecoso, and Mivas to provide integrated employment and well-being support, helping participants find sustainable employment or activation pathways.
• CAW (Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CAW Boom Mechelen Lier is a core partner in the UPLOAD+ project. CAW provides general well-being support, personal assistance, and family support, contributing to the holistic approach of integrating social welfare with employment activation.
• Arktos vzwcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Arktos is a partner in the UPLOAD+ local partnership project focused on helping people distanced from the labor market. Contributes expertise in youth and employment activation.
• EminocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Emino is a partner in the UPLOAD+ local partnership project. Contributes to the collaborative approach addressing employment barriers and personal development.
• EcosocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Ecoso is a partner in the UPLOAD+ local partnership project in the Rupelstreek, contributing social economy expertise to the collaborative employment activation network.
• MivascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Mivas is a partner in the UPLOAD+ local partnership project, participating in the collaborative network that supports people with barriers to employment in the Rupelstreek region.
• Telenet GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVlotter has served as Telenet's exclusive reverse logistics center for more than 15 years. From its 3,500 m² site, Vlotter sorts, tests, refurbishes, and repackages nearly 1 million Telenet decoders and modems annually — giving devices a second life and supporting Telenet's circular economy commitments.
• Europa WSE (Europe Work and Social Economy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropa WSE provides financial support enabling the UPLOAD+ project, which Vlotter leads as part of a multi-partner consortium in the Rupelstreek. The project aims to create sustainable employment pathways for people distanced from the labor market.
• Vlaamse Overheid (Flemish Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Flemish Government, through the Digibankenprogramma, provides financial support for Digibanken Rupelaar — coordinated by Vlotter in collaboration with local partners. The program is part of 'De Vlaamse Veerkracht', funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU.
• Lokaal Bestuur BoomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLokaal Bestuur Boom collaborates with Vlotter Maatwerk to offer warm meals at social tariff (€5 adults, €3 children) at Buurthuis Boomkewies. This partnership lowers financial barriers and strengthens community connection and neighborhood care.
• Lokaal Bestuur NielcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVlotter Maatwerk holds a 30-year concession with Lokaal Bestuur Niel for the hospitality operation of the 'Pastorie' — an historic building in the village center being transformed into a community meeting place. Opening planned for spring 2026.
• Archiles architectenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchiles architecten is responsible for the redesign and supervision of renovation works for the 'Pastorie' project in Niel. The firm is preserving the building's authentic style while adding a light, modern structure with open views toward the garden.
• Lokale besturen (Aartselaar, Boom, Hemiksem, Niel, Rumst, Schelle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal municipalities are founding partners of Vlotter and serve as both governance members and key customers. They partner with Digibanken Rupelaar, facilitate the UPLOAD+ project, and contract Vlotter for facilities, transport, and home care services.
• BlendersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlenders provides expertise in e-inclusion as an advisor to Digibanken Rupelaar, supporting the digital inclusion mission of the program coordinated by Vlotter.
• LigocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLigo partners with Vlotter and Vlotter Facilities in Digibanken Rupelaar, contributing to digital literacy and inclusion for vulnerable groups in the Rupelstreek region.
• Brouwerij De KlemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrouwerij De Klem in Niel crafts Vlotter bier — a strong, blonde tripel (8.5% alcohol) with fruity aroma — on an artisanal basis, brewed with 100% organic barley malt and Belgian Cascade hops.
• Nachtzorg MechelencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVlotter is affiliated with Nachtzorg Mechelen, which provides specialized non-medical night care (22:00–07:00) for people with dementia, chronic illness, functional loss due to aging, or in palliative situations. Vlotter contributes to this regional service network.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WAAK: Flemish maatwerkbedrijf (sheltered workshop) operating in the Mechelen region with a comparable multi-service portfolio spanning contract manufacturing, packaging, electronics work, cleaning, and green maintenance. Direct analog to Vlotter in legal structure (vzw), employment mission, and customer mix of B2B plus municipalities.
• De Kringwinkel: Belgian social-economy network of thrift shops operated by sheltered workshops. Shares Vlotter's circular-economy/reuse ethos (reconditioning second-hand goods, electronics refurbishment) and the maatwerkbedrijf employment model, though focused on retail collection rather than contract manufacturing.

Broad incumbents

• Familiehulp: Large established Belgian home-care organization providing family and elderly care, cleaning, and household help. Comparable to Vlotter Thuiszorg in service offerings and reliance on subsidized/regulated pricing, but at significantly larger scale and without the sheltered-employment constraint.
• i-mens: Major Flemish personal-care and home-care organization offering family care, cleaning, and welfare services. Comparable to Vlotter's Thuiszorg and Welzijn portfolio, with broader geographic coverage but similar dependence on regulated/funded care budgets.
• Accell Group: European bicycle manufacturing group owning multiple bike brands (Gazelle, Batavus, Koga, Lapierre). Comparable to Vlotter Maatwerk's bicycle assembly operations within the European bicycle industry, though Accell is a branded owner while Vlotter operates as a contract assembler.
• Trek Bicycle: Global bicycle manufacturer with extensive assembly operations and a strong European presence. Industry comparable to Vlotter's bike assembly line, though at vastly greater scale and as a brand-led business rather than a sheltered-workshop contract assembler.
• Giant Manufacturing: World's largest bicycle manufacturer with global assembly operations and OEM partnerships. Industry comparable to Vlotter's bike assembly business in scale of bicycle production, operating at the opposite end of the spectrum as a global brand owner.

Regional players

• Ridley Bikes: Belgian bicycle brand headquartered near Antwerp with a strong heritage-road and gravel portfolio. Industry peer to Vlotter's bicycle assembly business within the Belgian cycling market, though Ridley sells under its own brand rather than contract manufacturing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/VlotterRupelstreek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vlotter-maatwerk-welzijn-rupelstreek

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries5 records

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 Vlotter