“The combination of price, flexibility, and quality makes the difference”
De Budelse strategically focuses on clients that align with three core specializations: high volume/short runs, carton packaging, and Healthcare. Belgian company Sanico, a family business with over ninety years of experience in the production and packaging of pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, fits perfectly within this vision. Since 2019, both companies have been working closely together. Procurement Manager Katrien Ruysschaert explains how this collaboration has grown into a sustainable and strategic relationship.
Since 2013, Katrien Ruysschaert has been responsible for strategic procurement at Sanico. She purchases raw materials, excipients, and packaging materials and decides which suppliers the company works with on a long-term basis.
“For us, everything revolves around price, flexibility, and quality,” she explains. “These three factors determine our choice of suppliers. De Budelse meets all of them: communication is fast, quality is consistently high, and flexibility is exceptional. Thanks to the combination of my strategic role and the daily operational contact between our teams, the supply chain runs optimally.”
Sanico: a family business with international reach
Sanico was founded in 1932 and has grown into a leading producer and packer of non-sterile pharmaceutical products. In modern cleanrooms, the company manufactures and packages tablets, capsules, liquids, and powders.
The product range is broad, from prescription medicines to OTC products and probiotics. Sanico supplies pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies worldwide, often in multiple variants and languages.
“Our strength lies in our flexibility and small-scale production runs,” says Katrien. “We are fully equipped to respond quickly and adapt to new regulations. As a contract manufacturer, we combine production and packaging under one roof, which is unique in Belgium and Europe.”
From pilot project to structural partnership
The collaboration began in 2019 when De Budelse participated in a tender. Sanico consciously chose De Budelse due to their expertise in carton packaging, short lead times, and ability to execute short runs professionally.
“What started as a pilot project has grown into a permanent part of our supply chain,” says Katrien. “Today, De Budelse handles about thirty percent of our carton packaging. They know exactly what is needed and deliver it perfectly.”
The partnership deepened when Quality Manager Manou Kneepkens and colleagues visited the Turnhout factory. “It creates mutual understanding and insight into each other’s processes. Moments like these strengthen the foundation for a long-term partnership.”
Tailored carton packaging: from small batches to complex product lines
De Budelse delivers approximately 300 different packaging items to Sanico each year. Variations arise from language changes, updated leaflets, or regulatory modifications.
“Regulations change frequently,” Katrien explains. “An entire stock can suddenly become unusable. That’s why we must always order just-in-time. De Budelse excels in short lead times and flexible short runs.”
RFT: Right First Time also in the collaboration
Sanico operates according to the Right First Time principle: packaging must be correct from the start. “De Budelse understands this better than anyone,” says Katrien. “Ten-day lead times are crucial for us. With direct communication lines, dedicated contacts, and rapid coordination, everything runs smoothly. My contacts even have my direct number, few suppliers receive that privilege.”
Growing together in a changing sector
A shared long-term vision forms the basis of the collaboration between Sanico and De Budelse.
“We grow together with our clients,” Katrien concludes. “And that applies to our relationship with De Budelse as well. As long as we continue focusing on quality and flexibility, we can keep building together. In a sector where reliability and adaptability are essential, such a partnership makes all the difference.”