Voka entrepreneurs magazine

Recycling and reuse of materials is gaining increasing importance in companies and Smet Rental is noticing this as well. For recycling projects in the broadest sense of the word, the family business of Stefaan Smet and Hilde Gabriels offers no less than 150 different machines, from screens over conveyors to transfer cranes and crushers.

‘We rent mobile machines which our customers use in carrying out earthworks, all kinds of recycling activities and the shredding and treatment of industrial waste. Our drivers deliver the rented machines and provide the necessary explanations to get started with them. In addition, a technical team is available to assist with technical questions or problems. The duration of the rental varies greatly depending on the type of machine and the job; it ranges from a day to occasionally even a year or even longer. From the beginning, we decided to trust the operation of the rental machines to our customers. This way we avoid having to compete with them. Due to increasing demand in the second-hand market, we started Smet Machinery. With this, we respond to customers who want to take over a rented machine over time. In this way, for some brands, we also act as a distributor of their new machines.’

‘We started renting screening machines as an extension of the contracting business we had in the early 2000s. We noticed an interest in renting specific machinery for earthworks, for example. Because that often involves expensive installations of sometimes several hundred thousand euros, which customers usually only need for a short period of time. Over time, through customer demand and visits to trade shows, we noticed that as a rental company, there were even more applications possible. Machinery for recycling and waste treatment were then included in the range.’

‘First and foremost, we want to unburden our customers even more, not only on a technical level but in everything involved in renting our machines. We also want to further expand the sale of both used and new machines through Smet Machinery, both at home and abroad. We also participate in Voka Open Companies Day in the beginning of October, to give the outside world a clearer picture of our activities.

‘We want to provide our customers with customized solutions, and for that we make every effort. This strategy immediately explains our beautiful growth over the years. With our wide range of offerings, we are a strong, steady partner with the ability to move quickly and flexibly. In our role, we enable our clients to respond to the increasing importance of reusing materials and the changing legislation to that effect.

‘First, we discuss exactly what our client needs and what result he wants to achieve. Based on that, we will see which machine will serve him best. Therefore, we work not only with a wide range of all kinds of machine types, but also, in addition, with different brands. This way we can always propose the best solution for any specific job. If it turns out that there is no ready-made solution, we will work together to find a solution.’

‘Several years ago, we changed our previous name Smet Rental to Smet Rental. This is more consistent with the international focus we have. Because we also count customers in France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Sweden. In fact, this makes us one of the largest European players in our niche. In consultation with Flanders Investment & Trade, we are exploring ways to further anchor ourselves abroad. But we want that to go hand in hand with a warm, family approach. We realize all too well that our nearly 40-member squad is still our greatest asset.’

by Jan Van de Poel
photography Stefaan Van Hul

Thanks to Voka Antwerpen-Waasland