Belgium / Italy, October 2026. Italian manufacturer GEMA, a specialist in lightweight vehicle fit-outs for vans and pickups, is getting a new structure. VeloX Group, the investment holding of Belgian entrepreneurs Olivier Dhondt, Koen Bessemans and Thomas Baert, is taking a stake in the company. The new GEMA International handles the international markets from its new headquarters in Belgium, led by CEO Olivier Dhondt. GEMA Italia remains responsible for the Italian market and for engineering and production in Pieve a Nievole, Tuscany.
The new structure faced its first international test straight away. From 15 to 20 September, GEMA exhibited on a 149 m² island stand at IAA Transportation in Hannover, the leading trade fair for commercial vehicles. The fair drew more than 140,000 visitors, including 113,000 trade visitors, and the share of international visitors reached a record 40 percent. GEMA used that international flow of visitors to make contacts with distributors, installers and fleet partners, which are now being followed up.
Up to 60 percent lighter than steel
GEMA develops modular fit-outs in anodised aluminium and lightweight composites, from storage systems to solutions for couriers and last-mile delivery, vending and pickups. They weigh 40 to 60 percent less than conventional steel fit-outs. That matters more and more as vans go electric, because every kilo counts for payload and range. The systems are crash-tested to ECE R17 and fully recyclable. GEMA is ISO 9001 certified and holds eight international patents.
"In Hannover we showed GEMA in its new structure for the first time. The conversations confirm what we already thought: the sector is looking for lighter fit-outs, and GEMA already has that product."
"We are not building a sales office, but a network of partners who develop the brand in their own market," Dhondt adds. "An installer abroad should be able to work with GEMA as smoothly as a dealer in Tuscany."
"When we founded GEMA, we wanted to offer a lighter and smarter alternative to conventional steel fit-outs."
"That product is there, but the market is bigger than what we can serve from Tuscany," Lulli continues. "With GEMA International, we are now tackling international growth in a structured way. That lets us focus on what we do best: engineering, production and our customers in Italy."
Next step: an international partner network
In the coming months, GEMA will continue to build a network of distributors and certified installers in Europe, with the ambition to grow beyond Europe as well. Partners receive training, technical documentation and sales material to sell GEMA in their own market.
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