History

Levaco was founded in 1967 by two partners, and developed itself as a traditional forwarding company concentrating on seafreight business both for imports and exports, offering value added services throughout a wide range of storage and handling facilities in the Antwerp port.

Completing this forwarding package, Levaco obtained various customs bonds and services in Antwerp, linked directly with the Ministry of Finance sin Brussels. Today Levaco has been awarded with a full licensed AEO-certificate.

One of the original founders Mr. Van Der Haeghe continued till 2000 when the 2nd generation entered. “You cannot simply walk away from your life time achievement as if it never happened” Mr. Van Der Haeghe motivated his decision to support the new management headed by Luc Huysmans.

2000 – the 2ndLevaco generation joins at the millennium.

Luc’s forwarding career started when he joined Navex & Van Meerbeeck in 1993, first as a director and thereafter as an MD.
The company had just merged Van Meerbeeck & Co (founded 1946) and Navex N.V. (founded 1919).

Focusing on the creation of new products and services to dedicated regions with local partnerships at destinations requiring specific know how, a container route was opened in 1994 to Albania supplying the Coca Cola factory with sugar from the UK.

The service was later extended to Kosovo and Macedonia, and at the same time a full service by sea and land was opened to Iran where the economy started to flourish again.

Focusing on niche markets in challenging regions

With the launch of UNO’s oil for food program, Levaco succeeded to transport any type of cargo into Iraq under UNO permission, irrespective whether breakbulk, FCL or LCL and irrespective whether via Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon or Syria.

In 1996 a container service was created to CIS serving mainly Central Asia via Baltic or White Sea, later extended with services to the Caucasus via the Black Sea.

Early 2000 Levaco also become exclusive European agent in Europe for a container and breakbulk service on a regular basis to the Sakhalin Islands.

2017… 50 years Levaco, 50 years of tradition and values!

In the meantime Levaco developed a strong worldwide network of well over +750 exclusive overseas partners each of them specialised in sea, air, logistics, breakbulk, oversized cargo’s and heavy lifts, enabling Levaco to offer the full scope of service facilities similar to any global multinational company, in combination with the ultimate flexibility and personal values of a medium sized family owned forwarding company.

The service level which made Levaco successful over the last decennia remains fully intact today and is supported by a unique software system.
Our software applications are offering new opportunities with a variety of services, communications, stock reporting and tailor made documentation for the Levaco clientele , in line with our customers tailor made requirements.

Levaco… not the biggest but…     fast, friendly, reliable and professional.

Milestones

Foundation

01/12/1967

Levaco becomes FIATA member

01/01/1984

Luc Huysmans (2nd Generation) appointed CEO

14/04/2003

New office building (3.000 square mtrs)

02/06/2006

Plan parentship

01/05/2008

Levaco becomes full AEO certified

01/01/2012

Christopher Huysmans (3rd generation) appointed MD

01/01/2014

Alycia Huysmans (3rd generation) joining the team

01/01/2018