During the grand finale in MartiniPlaza yesterday, the Leek based company Koopman Logistics won the Groningen Entrepreneur Award 2018. The jury praised the inventiveness of using blockchain as well as the family business’ strong ties to Groningen, while operating internationally.
Koopman Logistics was founded in 1930 and employs over 900 people. The family business has evolved from a one-man company into a major European logistics services provider in the automotive industry, which today handles 700,000 cars per year for 24 car brands throughout Europe.
Recently, Koopman became one of the first automotive transportation companies to implement IBM Blockchain technology. The solution enables Koopman to rapidly and accurately track and trace its consignments across its entire supply chain and replace paper-based processes with secure, digital records.
The other two finalists were high-end hingeless door manufacturer FritsJurgens and Roossien Hoogwerktechniek, a producer of ladders and industrial hydraulic platforms.