Winner of the ‘Logistic Building of the Year 2025’ Award is ‘MG Park Malinas’ in Mechelen. Built by MG Real Estate, put into use and rented by Kellanova and Logistics on PIPE by GXO, who also applied this building for this trophy. “Thanks to the robust construction and flexible layout, ‘MG Park Malinas’ remains a valuable and functional space, regardless of future business developments,” stresses Steven De Waele, director at GXO. The ‘best of the class’ in efficiency and sustainability, as it were …
MG Real Estate sold the building in March 2025 to the German investor Deka.
The name of tenant Kellanova may not immediately ring a bell, their products – including Kellogg’s cornflakes and Pringles chips – undoubtedly. The Pringles factory of Kellanova in Mechelen is the second largest in the world. And in addition to that factory, the company opened its largest logistics hub in Europe last year: ‘MG Park Malinas’.
This warehouse has 67,567 m², incl. Mezzanines, on a site of 124,202 m². The warehouse offers a free height of 15.20 meters and is divided into four units, each unit of which is tailored to the specific logistics requirements of Kellanova. “These units can be used multifunctionally, both switched and independent,” says S. De Waele. “They deviate from the standard cross layout, making each unit easily accessible from a different unit.”
The new logistics center next to the Pringles production hall was a logical step to increase efficiency and to make business operations more sustainable. “The short distance between the new warehouse and the Pringles production hall ensures efficient cooperation and faster distribution,” said S. de Waele.
Steven De Waele (GXO): “The short distance between the new warehouse and the Pringles production hall increases efficiency.”
Brownfield location
‘MG Park Malinas’ was built at a redeveloped Brownfield location, which for decades housed the paint factory of Axalta. When Axalta announced its intention to sell at the end of 2019, a challenging process of purchases and permits started. The construction started in the last quarter of 2022, the last unit was delivered in February 2024.
One of the most important challenges was the removal of asbestos and demolition of large structures, including the former factory building of Axalta, approximately 55,000 m² and 14,000 m² of warehouses and offices. S. De Waele: “This required accurate planning and specialized version. The demolition and removal of approximately 3,000 tonnes of stainless steel and the removal of 60 tonnes of asbestos were a considerable logistics operation.”
In addition, approximately 20,000 tons of polluted soil was cleaned, while 60,000 tons of concrete and brick on the site were broken and reused. A Brownfield covenant, concluded in November 2023 between VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship), OVAM (Public Flemish Waste Company), City of Mechelen and MG Real Estate, provided the necessary resources and support.
CO₂-neutral
‘MG Park Malinas’ is also a CO₂ neutral building, with one of the largest photovoltaic installations in Belgium on the roof. It has 16,000 solar panels with a total capacity of 9.5 MWp. This installation generates 8.5 GWH green electricity annually, equal to the consumption of 2,400 households. The energy generated is transported directly via a medium voltage cable to the Kellanova factory and the warehouse.
During the construction, only materials were used with an ‘Environmental Product Declaration’ (EPD), which demonstrates the environmental effects of the materials during their life cycle. In the summer of 2025, the building should obtain a BREEAM Excellent certificate.
“The demolition and removal of approximately 3,000 tons of stainless steel and removal of 60 tonnes of asbestos was a considerable logistics operation.”
Selected systems
There were of course also the efficiency of the logistics activities in the building itself. Among other things, they opted for these applications:
- Ancra-System: This system, with a length of 14 meters, supports pallets up to 1,000 kg, with a daily capacity of 96 pallets, compared to the 75 pallets per day of a trailer. After receiving the pallets, they will be automatically forwarded to a manual drop-off or ASRS. There is also a co-packing system, with three automatic lifts for the supply and removal of pallets to the mezzanine.
- VNA racking system (very narrow aisle racking) from Jungheinrich: The available space is thus optimally utilized for stacking products. This system makes it possible to create nearly 100,000 pallet spots, which considerably increases the storage capacity. To maximize the efficiency, the corridors of the warehouse were extremely sharpened, with a cross-tolerance of only 0.2 mm.
- RFID technology: The locations in the warehouse are thus linked to physical coordinates so that the trucks can choose more efficient routes and save time.
- WMS (Warehouse Management System): This ensures the management of all warehouse processes, from receipt to sending goods. This WMS works seamlessly with SAP Business One. The WMS offers warehouse managers a clear overview of the stock and warehouse layout, with automatic updates.
- Peripass system: This offers automated truck dispatching, reducing the chance of errors.
- Bulpan arrival protections Protect the technical installations and increase safety.
Low sickness absence
In 2024, absenteeism among employees in the new warehouse was 5.13%: relatively low for Belgium. According to GXO, proof of the positive impact of the new working environment on the well -being of staff.
‘MG Park Malinas’ is a CO₂ neutral building, with one of the largest photovoltaic installations in Belgium on the roof.
