Genk: (Brussels Morning) – The old Ford site in Genk, Belgium is being transformed into an eco-friendly logistics campus by Group Machiels and H.Esser, aiming to create jobs and boost the regional economy.
The old Ford site in Genk, Belgium closed in 2016 and they wanted to make the area better. The City of Genk and POM Limburg have agreed to sell the last 4.5 hectares of the site to Group Machiels and H.Essers. They plan to work together to create a logistics campus there. Group Machiels is good at making things eco-friendly and they might do that at the logistics campus. H.Essers knows a lot about moving things and has the tools for it. The campus will use the old industrial stuff and could make new jobs and help Genk and nearby places grow economically. This project is a big deal for changing the old Ford site into a new place for moving things around which could help both local businesses and those from other countries.
What is the vision for transforming the former Ford site in Genk into a collaborative logistics hub?
Since the Ford site closed they’ve made big changes like adding a new gatehouse. Mayor Wim Dries from CD&V wants to build a logistics campus there. The campus will have offices, meeting spaces and might host Limburg’s logistics center. They want to create a place where different businesses work together in logistics. This project not only makes the old site better but also helps the region grow economically and with new ideas. The logistics campus at the old Ford site in Genk wants to be like other successful places such as Corda Campus in Hasselt the Health Campus and the construction campus in Diepenbeek. These places are like hubs where different companies, research centers and schools all work together in specific areas. The Corda Campus in Hasselt is all about tech and new ideas. It’s a place where small companies big companies and research groups work together. They share knowledge and help each other grow in the tech field. The Health Campus in Diepenbeek is all about healthcare and biotech. They team up healthcare providers, researchers and industry folks to push medical research and new ideas.
The construction campus in Diepenbeek is about eco-friendly building. They gather smart people from schools, companies, and the government to promote green building methods and materials. The logistics campus in Genk wants to make a lively place where logistics companies, schools and others work together. They hope this teamwork will boost the economy bring in investments and spark new ideas in logistics in Limburg and beyond.
What is the significance of the new 22 million euro gatehouse at the former Ford site in Genk?
The tall gatehouse at the old Ford site in Genk is good. It’s going to be a big symbol for the area.Mayor Wim Dries thinks it will give Genk-Zuid a new look and help the campus grow for logistics.
Mayor Mentioned that:
He’s happy because it’s the last step in changing Ford Genk and it happened fast, bringing lots of new jobs and benefits in manufacturing and logistics. This gatehouse costs 22 million euros. They’re finishing up selling the last piece of land. They’ve done a lot of planning already so they hope to finish everything next year and start building.
