Nieuws van NDL; ‘Streamlight chooses the Netherlands for its EDC’

Streamlight, Inc., located in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. designs and manufactures high quality, professional lighting tools such as torches and lanterns that are powered by rechargeable and disposable batteries. For over 45 years, Streamlight has been a market leader in the US and one of the larger brands in Europe.

Streamlight has successfully serviced their clients in Europe, mainly distributors, from their own warehouse in Eagleville in the US. In an effort to offer shorter lead times, higher frequency of smaller orders and overall reduced transport costs Streamlight contacted the Holland International Distribution Council (HIDC) to review viable options for changing its European supply chain needs. In January 2018, Philippe Marzin, Streamlight European Sales Manager and HIDC began discussing the steps to open up a European Distribution Center (EDC).

Upon evaluating the concise information provided by HIDC, Streamlight was impressed by the perfect business climate that the Netherlands offers for supply chain activities. “The ease of doing business and the logistics environment in the Netherlands is simply world class. After due diligence of other options, choosing the Netherlands as the pan-European hub was an easy decision” states Philippe Marzin.

The best option was to find a full-service 3PL (third party logistics service provider) that would act as Streamlight’s European warehousing and distribution center partner, thus providing a local partner with the knowledge and network for Europe. Based on Streamlight’s requirements, HIDC suggested three logistics companies in the Netherlands that were a good fit. Together with a HIDC representative, the companies were visited during a fact finding mission in the Netherlands to tour the facilities, discuss the solutions and get a sense for compatibility.

Streamlight selected Falcon Logistics in Hoofddorp (close to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol) as their partner, with the first container of product arriving in July 2019. “Streamlight’s clients in Europe will be delighted that the lead time has been cut from 14-18 days to 24-48 hours. Also, minimum order value is significantly lower and there is no hassle with VAT and duties. This will improve our service levels dramatically,” according to Philippe Marzin. “HIDC has been instrumental in establishing this successful partnership. Falcon Logistics is our extension in Europe, handles all our logistics and VAT and the implementation was flawless.”

Philippe Marzin
Streamlight, Inc.
European Sales Manager