“Arendonk is truly customer-focused” – Orion’s Belgian site packs and delivers veterinary medicines worldwide

Orion’s Animal Health business is growing, and the Arendonk site in Belgium is one of the drivers behind that growth. While our main production site for Animal Health products is in Arques, France, Arendonk serves as a centre for packaging, labelling, and distribution.  

Its teams handle smaller or customized orders, re-labelling, repacking and logistics for markets across the globe. This means Arendonk is closer to the customer, ensuring flexible service and tailored solutions that complement the large-scale production in France.

“Arendonk is really customer-centric,” summarises Kristy Gevers, Finance Director.  

The site also houses: 

• Benelux and export sales teams

• warehousing operations

• dedicated Quality and Regulatory teams working to ensure compliance and uphold the highest standards across all products and markets. 

These functions make it a vital hub in the supply chain for Orion’s veterinary medicines for both livestock and companion animals. 

Building resilience together  

The Arendonk team reflects a blend of history and renewal. Many employees have long-standing ties with the former Inovet, which Orion acquired in 2022, while new colleagues have joined as the company has grown.  

The site employs approximately 60 people and has seen new positions created to support Orion Pharma Animal Health’s mission. Recruitment has been steady in recent years, especially in warehousing, production, and professional support functions.  

Leo Aerden, Quality Director, has worked in the business since the early 1990s and witnessed its transformation.  

“We evolved from a small company, where everyone wore different hats, to a more structured organization as part of Orion. It has meant adapting to new processes, but we have kept the strong sense of community,” he says.  

For Aerden, maintaining quality across both Arendonk and Arques remains central, ensuring that veterinary products meet the highest standards.  

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Flemish and Finnish people are perhaps both reserved, but also pragmatic and cooperative. That has helped us grow together.

According to Davina Codd, People & Culture Director, resilience and adaptability have defined the workforce.  

“When I joined, the teams had just experienced a wave of change: a new ERP system, a new production facility, and the acquisition itself. What struck me was the closeness of the organization and how people supported one another. That family spirit has remained.”  

Employees value that this sense of belonging has been preserved, while becoming part of a listed international company now offers greater opportunities for professional growth and career development.

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People have been given space and time to get used to the changes. There has been very good collaboration.

A team grounded in the local community 

Integration into Orion has brought new systems, structures, and international collaboration, but local character is very much at the heart of the operations. The Nordic approach with flat hierarchies, openness, and collaboration has influenced how change is managed, they say.  

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It was never about imposing new rules overnight. The integration was step by step, with input from both sides, and that gave people the chance to adapt at their own pace.

Davina Codd notes that the Nordic style has helped to create a supportive environment.

“People have been given space and time to get used to the changes. There has been very good collaboration.”  

For Leo Aerden, similarities in mindset also ironed out the transition.

“Flemish and Finnish people are perhaps both reserved, but also pragmatic and cooperative. That has helped us grow together.” 

Everyday life at the site reflects a mix of professionalism and warmth. Many Arendonk employees come from the local community, which makes it natural to spend time together outside work. Colleagues mark personal milestones together, like birthdays, weddings, and Christmas gatherings. Family days also remain part of the culture.  

At the same time, being part of Orion offers international exposure, from joint projects with colleagues globally to learning about new markets. Employees are part of a global mission to improve animal health, while still working in a close Belgian team.