Caeleste

From its inception in 2006, Flanders-based sensor manufacturer Caeleste aimed for the sky internationally. What began as a start-up in a garage conquered the world of microelectronics by storm. In doing so, the Mechelen-based company put its innovative strengths – and those of Flanders – on the map. 

Today, Caeleste’s sensors are used in medical imaging, aerospace and a variety of industrial applications around the globe. But the internationalization story of this top exporter from Flanders is far from over. 

As a state-of-the-art player, Caeleste is perfectly at home in Flanders. The company consciously chooses to grow using its own resources from its home base in Mechelen. “In Flanders, we can rely on a solid network of partner organizations – and the region is the ideal breeding ground for R&D and innovation,” says CEO Geert De Peuter. “Far beyond Flanders’ borders, you can make a difference with thorough specialization and in-depth knowledge. You don’t need to go to, say, Silicon Valley to do that. On the contrary, Silicon Valley comes to us for custom-made image sensors.” 

“Microelectronics is a small but internationally oriented world,” adds founder Bart Dierickx. “Together with our customers, our goal is to come up with solutions superior to the standard range offered by established players. Caeleste was born from the idea that those big companies were missing a lot of opportunities. With our custom approach, we explore the limits of technology – and that’s how we differentiate ourselves.” 

Caeleste conquered the world from Flanders step by step and at  lightning speed. In the early days, the firm worked most often for European aerospace companies. Through word-of-mouth advertising, its client base quickly expanded. Some French and German customers, among others, became enthusiastic ambassadors of Caeleste. The Mechelen-based company then set its sights on distant export markets, including China, Japan, South Korea and the US. “Our horizons steadily expanded when it comes to applications,” adds Geert. “In addition to aerospace and scientific applications, we explored medical fields such as dentistry and oncology.” 

Through representatives in key export markets, Caeleste can maintain regional focus as well. Geert: “Thanks to their knowledge of local markets and business cultures, these representatives can more easily break the ice and win trust. As soon as things get technical, they pass the torch back to us. In addition, Flanders Investment & Trade invests heavily in a network of Science & Technology Counselors. For us, these are ideal extra antennas, especially for markets into which we want to delve deeper.” 

To stay relevant and one step ahead of the competition, Caeleste does what companies from Flanders do best: play the innovation card. “What is state-of-the-art today will be commonplace in a few years,” says Bart. "Only through continuous learning can we keep raising the bar. Besides on-the-job training, our Caeleste University covers all kinds of aspects of electronics to keep our employees up to date with the latest trends and technologies. We are also a driving force behind the Electroniade, a quiz at Benelux level for industry players, academia and institutions for research and technical training.” 

Working together is another way for Caeleste to aim ever higher. Geert: “Collaborations give us the oxygen we need to innovate and challenge ourselves. Flanders has a wonderful ecosystem for microelectronics. Within this ecosystem, we join forces with other players to put the strongest-possible business case on the table."