Kneading innovation together with Bakker Klootwijk.

Working in a bakery is more than just the smell of freshly baked bread and dough kneading. Every day is about craftsmanship, precision and speed. In the competitive market bakers are constantly looking for ways to produce faster, smarter and better, without compromising on the quality of their daily fresh bread. At Bakker Klootwijk they know this like no other. That is why, together with DERO GROEP, they are fully committed to innovative automation.

With more than 85 employees and more than 150 customers, including supermarkets and eight of its own stores, Bakker Klootwijk runs at full speed every day. "We got in touch with DERO GROEP to automate our processes and stay ahead in the market," says Casper Boers, operational director at Bakker Klootwijk. "Since then, DERO GROEP built three installations that help us work more efficiently."

Robots at the helm

The transport of baking trays is fully mechanized, and robots now facilitate automatic loading and unloading of the oven. "In many smaller bakeries, this is still done manually," says Maro Dedel, owner of DERO GROEP. "At Bakker Klootwijk, the robot is the centerpiece: it grabs the baking trays, puts the dough on them and places the trays back. From there everything goes automatically - from the proofing cabinet to the oven and then to the cooling conveyor, where the bread is removed from the plate." Another robot removes loaves from the baking tins. Maro: "With six needles, the robot lifts the bread out of the tin and places it on the cooling conveyor. And additionally, for bread loaves, we developed a robot that processes three different baking tins automatically, which saves a lot of manual labor."

At Bakker Klootwijk, robots are used for tasks such as depanning, baking tray handling and baking tin handling.

Always in top condition

The service specialists of DERO GROEP visit periodically for preventive maintenance. Casper: "They replace parts where necessary and keep our machines in top condition. This way we know for sure that the machines function properly and barely stand still. Our own technical department does the regular maintenance, DERO GROEP is available 24/7 for support, also remotely. Very important with our tight daily schedule."

Rising to new heights together

Casper is pleased with the long-term cooperation. "When we commissioned our first robot in 2000, technology was fairly new in the bakery world. DERO GROEP's technology continues to advance. And there is both engineering and maintenance knowledge, which means we get everything done efficiently and quickly with one partner," says Casper. "Through automation, we reduced costs and employees can do more challenging work. Communication with DERO GROEP is fast and smooth; we have been working together for almost 25 years and after all these years, half a word is enough. They are flexible and always involved, which makes them an indispensable partner."

Involved and reliable

What Casper particularly appreciates about DERO GROEP is the commitment and tailor-made solutions. "The people at DERO GROEP always think along with us and really deliver customized solutions, such as the robots that help us in the bakery. They build tailor-made machines exactly as we need them, without unnecessary extras. They give honest advice when something is not profitable and think along in our interest, not just for their own sales. When they built the first line in 2000, they were working day and night to get everything running. One programmer even stayed at a nearby hotel to get back to work quickly. That tells all about their dedication." Maro adds: "The great thing about working with a bakery is that they are open 24/7, so we were able to move quickly. And there's always something delicious to eat!"