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Helping bodyshops and other vehicle body repairers get the right parts quickly and correctly: APF Autoparts has been successful with this business model for a quarter of a century. The company of founder Jürgen Sonck has also conquered a good market share internationally and is investing in a considerable expansion of the warehouse this year.
When Jürgen Sonck started on a small scale in 1999, his company mainly supplied Toyota parts to customers. In 2024, APF Autoparts is synonymous with no fewer than 15 million spare parts from 55 automobile manufacturers.
“Whereas we used to serve mainly independent garages, the customer portfolio has gradually expanded to include bodywork specialists, (glass) damage processors, and so on,” Jürgen explains. “Gradually, we also became strongly active abroad. In addition to the headquarters in Belgium, we now have branches in France, Spain, Lithuania, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. With the British we found that necessary in the run-up to the Brexit, while from Lithuania we also help Scandinavian customers further. We built all those foreign branches from scratch. That organic growth has recently been supported by two acquisitions in the Netherlands.”
The company’s services are also catching on outside Europe. “Through regular trade fair participations in Singapore, Dubai, China, Turkey and other countries, among others, we have been able to establish our name there too. In addition, local word of mouth ensures that many customers from those regions discover us. They quickly experience how easily they can place online orders through our up-to-date product catalogue.”
For customers, it is very convenient that they can turn to one partner for a very wide product range. “We combine that with market-compliant prices and a powerful service. For example, our ‘export express’ service is provided to deliver very quickly. With that kind of order, price is of secondary importance. We also often receive large orders from abroad (‘export bulk’), where delivery time is secondary to price.”
Two years ago, APF Autoparts swapped its original location in Geraardsbergen for new premises in Zottegem. “Here we were able to have future-proof premises built, with more comfort for our people. As a result, we did not lose any employees either. In the meantime, we were subsequently able to purchase an additional plot of land, where from September we will start building to double our warehouse (from 7,000 to 15,000 m²). We will be able to provide more stock there, which will ease some of the pressure on our teams.”
For about seven years, APF Autoparts has been operating 24 hours a day during weekdays. “Our night team comprises 14 people. Thanks to them, we can respond very specifically to requests for fast deliveries. For our customers, this is a great added value as they themselves work under great pressure from insurance companies.”
Three years ago, the company captured the Trends Supergazelle award. “The future prospects also look very favorable, although the impact of electrification on our business will remain rather limited, as the focus is not immediately on engine parts.”
At the end of this year, all 225 employees (154 of them in Belgium) will come together as usual to toast the company’s success. Plenty of people therefore to blow out the 25 birthday candles.
Text – Bart Vancauwenberghe // Pictures – Wim Kempenaers