Maro Dedel and Jogchem den Otter start a robot division within Koninklijke Landré & Glinderman: Landré Robotics. They integrate the first FANUC robot in the Dutch industry and many robots will follow.

After 7 years of experience with robots at Landré Robotics, Maro Dedel starts his own company: DERO. In the early years, activities consist of supplying peripherals and services for robot applications/solutions, mostly to robot system integrators.

The first robot project in the cheese industry was in cooperation with the RO GROEP at CONO Kaasmakers in 1994. This tasted like more and in the following years, concepts for robotic cheese handling lines were rapidly realized with DERO's contribution.

A big step forward: our own building is being built at the Boekweitstraat in Nieuw-Vennep. It is built to accommodate growth, and at first we will only occupy a part of the building at the back.

Together with Doeschot, Maro invents and develops the compact line; a robot cheese treatment line on a small surface. A patent is granted for this and the first line is installed in Bodegraven, the cheese center of the Netherlands.

DERO starts a collaboration with ELTEN, which is part of BMA. From then on, all cheese treatment projects are undertaken jointly.

ELTEN is acquired from BMA and we continue together. In the same year, the core of the bankrupt Hendriks joins the new DERO ELTEN. This is the beginning of a new era, in which the company grows fast by combining expertise and innovation and the product portfolio for the cheese sector is greatly expanded.

Just in time, the construction of a whole new building starts at the Luzernestraat in Nieuw-Vennep, diagonally opposite the current premises.

The new premises are spectacularly opened with a big party. Celebrating together, enjoying together and experiencing together.

We want to provide our customers with even better service and to do so we establish a separate organization: DERO ELTEN SERVICE, which will later become DG SERVICE. The service organization will be further expanded under the management of Cees Bestebreur.

Due to our success in cheese, we simply cannot handle our growth! We participate in BOSGRAAF and a year later full acquisition follows, including the premises in Joure. This further expands the product portfolio and possibilities for cheese and we can now also offer other solutions for the food industry (convenience).

To further expand our end-of-line range, PACKTECH is acquired. In Nieuw-Vennep, the new building has already become too small and so we are expanding the premises.

A new era begins and we continue together under a new name: DERO GROEP. DERO, ELTEN and BOSGRAAF become our brands. Corstiaan Verbeek (Nieuw-Vennep) and Richard Bouma (Joure) become branch managers and join the group's management team.

We acquire DOESCHOT in Alkmaar. The product portfolio is incorporated in Nieuw-Vennep and Joure, and the DOESCHOT location in Alkmaar is transformed into our service branch. A year later, we build an entirely new building in Alkmaar for the service organization.

We celebrate our 25th anniversary together with (former) colleagues, clients, relations, friends and family in the new building in Alkmaar, which has been converted into a nightclub especially for this occasion.

We launch a new corporate identity that reflects who we are at our core: a dynamic company where the drive of our people makes the difference for our customers. This also introduces the DERO DRIVE with the tagline ‘Our Drive. Your solution.’

A new comprehensive 5-year plan is presented for a future-proof organization, with focus and growth in the disciplines cheese, convenience, robotics and, of course, service. The management team is expanded with Jurjen Bakker.

DERO GROEP is aiming for long-term collaborations, because together you get further. This year a number of important events happen: with FANUC Benelux we celebrate 35 years of cooperation, we enter into a strategic partnership with Bercomex for pioneering robotization in flower processing, and as the first in the world we become service partner of Stäubli.

To fulfill our growth ambitions and provide even better service to industry, we enter into a strategic partnership with Weber Food Technology for global service to the cheese and convenience industry.