As drone technology continues to transform logistics, ADLC is leading the charge with tangible, data-driven achievements.
Since it's founding just a few years ago, A Drone Logistics Company (ADLC) has established a network of 7 operational hubs and secured a signed customer contract within just two years, setting a new standard in drone transportation services.
At Amsterdam Drone Week (ADW) 2024, Lorenzo Murzilli, Co-founder and CEO of Murzilli Consulting, sat down with Rayan Quintaes, Co-founder and CEO of ADLC, to discuss how ADLC’s authorised BVLOS flights cover a 12.5km route in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, with drones capable of carrying payloads of up to 15kg. Projects such as SAMPLIFLY have reduced sample transport times from 40 minutes to 10, slashing CO₂ emissions by 80%.
With a recent €2 million seed funding round to expand operations beyond European ports, ADLC is not only integrating advanced U-space technologies but also setting new benchmarks in industrial drone logistics.
From concept to operation: ADLC's journey
ADLC was co-founded in 2021 by Rayan Quintaes, business and aeronautical engineering specialist; Marc Kegelaers, former co-owner and CEO of Unifly; and Grégoire Moreau, business and AI engineering professional. ADLC was created with a clear mission: to provide drone transportation services tailored to high-value use cases.
And since its establishment, the company has done just that. In its short years, ADLC has managed to become a leading innovator in drone delivery services, specialising in B2B industrial logistics. By developing advanced drone delivery networks with specialised landing spots and robust communication systems, ADLC ensures compliance with regulatory standards while optimising supply chains.
With the transport sector responsible for around 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, ADLC is committed to revolutionising logistics with cleaner, technology-driven solutions that can be deployed immediately.
Unlike many startups that begin with technology demonstrations, ADLC began operations with a signed customer contract, highlighting its commitment to addressing real-world logistics challenges from the outset.
"We hate testing and demonstration and trial. We started actually the company with a customer – a signed contract two years after the creation of the company," Rayan explained.
From that contract, signed with SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certification company – ADLC started to build its business and operations.
“It was really not a technology-to-customer approach, but a customer-to-technology approach,” he added.
ADLC’s core mission is to deliver drone logistics where it creates the most meaningful impact. This customer-first mindset ensures that every drone operation is aligned with industry needs, rather than technology for its own sake.
Transforming industrial and maritime logistics
Drones are playing an increasingly critical role in shaping industrial and maritime logistics. Traditional supply chains, especially in port and offshore environments, face inefficiencies due to slow transit times, complex infrastructure, and environmental concerns.
One thing ADLC has done to overcome these difficulties, as Rayan explained, is operate as a fully drone-agnostic company, meaning they buy the drones and operate them depending on which is the best for the customer. On a case-by-case basis, they find the technology that best addresses and answers the customer’s need. This ensures cargo is transported in the most suitable drone, supported by predictive maintenance for uninterrupted operations.
“So, as every transportation company, we plan to charge on a per flight or per delivery basis,” Rayan stated.
This allows the company to offer fast, integrated, and low-emission transportation for various industries.
“What we do is we provide drone transportation services for delivery and transportation, and our focus is high-value use cases. So, ‘where can we really bring value to the end customers?’ And today we do it mainly into port environments,” explained Rayan.
ADLC’s customer-centric approach has allowed the company to go the beyond the proof-of-concept stage, leading to fully operational services in the Port of Antwerp-Bruges. With these operations, ADLC now manages a network of seven hubs, facilitating daily drone deliveries that enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
Following an extensive Specific Operational Risk Assessment (SORA) process, ADLC received authorisation from the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) to conduct true Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights without observers over a 12.5 km route within the port.
This milestone enables the company to deliver goods of up to 15 kg efficiently, including during night-time operations, while adhering to the latest European U-space regulations for the safe integration of manned and unmanned air traffic.
With its presence in the Port of Antwerp, ADLC is already demonstrating the value of UAVs in industrial settings. This success shows that drone logistics is no longer a futuristic concept but a present-day reality. By prioritising operational viability over prolonged testing phases, ADLC has set a benchmark for others in the industry.
Strategic partnerships and sustainable innovations
Without a doubt, ADLC’s collaboration with SGS was a pivotal one.
The two companies, in collaboration with BASF Antwerp, launched the SAMPLIFLY project, focusing on the rapid and safe transport of petrochemical analysis samples from ships to laboratories via drones.
Traditionally, these samples were transported by road, a method frequently delayed by traffic congestion, bridge openings, and natural barriers, which not only extended delivery times but also increased CO₂ emissions. By introducing fully autonomous BVLOS drone deliveries, ADLC has reduced sample transport times from 40 minutes to just 10 minutes while cutting CO₂ emissions by 80%, offering a faster, more sustainable alternative to conventional van transport.
At the heart of this operation is ADLC’s advanced drone technology and integrated logistics platform, which ensures seamless and efficient sample transportation. The process begins when an SGS inspector places an order via ADLC’s web-based ordering system, allowing real-time tracking of the delivery.
The PW.Orca cargo drone, capable of carrying up to 15 kg over a 60 km range, is then loaded at the designated take-off location before autonomously flying to the SGS laboratory.
Equipped with onboard navigation systems and satellite-based positioning, the drone follows a pre-planned route while being remotely monitored from ADLC’s Operations Control Centre (OCC), where pilots oversee flights and can intervene if necessary. Upon arrival, the samples are unloaded for immediate laboratory analysis, streamlining the testing process and allowing ships to expedite unloading procedures.
The success of SAMPLIFLY demonstrates the scalability and reliability of drone logistics beyond port environments. This pioneering initiative, a first of its kind in Europe, highlights the potential of drone technology to revolutionise industrial transport, offering a faster, greener, and more resilient alternative to traditional delivery methods.
Embracing regulatory frameworks and technological integration
One of the key factors behind ADLC’s success is its proactive approach to navigating complex regulatory landscapes. The company has worked closely with aviation authorities to ensure full compliance with emerging drone regulations.
Operating within a pre-U-space configuration in Antwerp, ADLC seamlessly integrates its activities with existing air traffic systems.
“Our activities are fully integrated with existing traffic – we get real time telemetry; we can avoid traffic and react upon it. So, that was really the building blocks that lead to creating the industry that we are in right now,” explained Rayan.
By utilising real-time telemetry and Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM) technologies, the company ensures safe, efficient, and scalable drone operations.
Industry-wide adoption of drone logistics is contingent on regulatory frameworks that enable long-term scalability. ADLC actively collaborates with policymakers and aviation authorities to shape the future of drone legislation, with a strong focus on enabling Beyond BVLOS operations, standardising airspace integration, and maintaining compliance with safety standards. This regulatory engagement positions ADLC as a leader in compliant, large-scale UAV logistics.
Expanding services and securing investment for the future
To accelerate its growth and expand its operations, ADLC recently secured €2 million in seed funding. This investment, led by Galactic Beacon Ventures (GBV) with participation from LRM, Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and NXT II, will enable the company to extend its drone logistics solutions across maritime and offshore industries.
The funding will support further expansion into additional European ports, reinforcing ADLC’s presence in key logistics hubs. The company is also developing offshore logistics solutions to serve wind farms, oil rigs, and remote industrial sites, where drones can provide faster and safer transportation of equipment and materials.
As industrial operations increasingly prioritise efficiency, sustainability, and automation, drone logistics is becoming a mainstream solution for critical transportation needs. With ongoing technological advancements and expanding regulatory support, ADLC is well positioned to play a key role in shaping the future of industrial logistics.
In fact, ADLC was awarded the Supply Chain Award for Start-up of the Year 2024, recognising its significant impact on modern logistics. This award, granted by supply chain professionals, further reinforces the positive feedback already received from customers and port authorities regarding the company’s innovative B2B drone delivery service.
The award also highlights ADLC’s role as a trailblazer in logistics innovation, demonstrating the potential of drone technology to transform supply chains.
ADLC’s goal is to make industrial drone logistics as reliable and commonplace as traditional forms of transportation. Rayan explained that the company is excited to partner with forward-thinking investors who share their vision for a more efficient, sustainable future.
By continually refining its operational model and extending its reach to new markets, ADLC is setting new standards for scalable and cost-effective logistics solutions. Its rapid growth underscores how drones can deliver tangible benefits for industries that depend on speed, precision, and sustainability in logistics.
As its services expand, ADLC continues to reinforce its position as a leader in drone-powered industrial logistics, demonstrating how UAVs can be effectively integrated into complex supply chains worldwide.
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