In the middle of the Beemster, between the green meadows and grazing cows, you will find the cheese dairy of CONO Kaasmakers. Here the milk from their own dairy farmers is processed in a sustainable and artisanal way to make Beemster® cheese and more. It was at this very pioneering cooperative where the DERO adventure in cheese started about 30 years ago.

In 1994, DERO and the RO-groep jointly delivered a rack loading robot to CONO. "This is where our passion for automation in cheese began," says Maro Dedel, CEO and founder DERO GROEP. "From then on, we started combining this passion with our passion for robots." That first robot lasted no less than 25 years and was the starting point of a long-term cooperation.

More hygienic brine out 

Years later, in 2008, a second project followed: a robotic brine out line, delivered together with Doeschot. This replaced the high-maintenance and difficult-to-clean transport system between the brine bath and the treatment line. The new robotic solution was simpler to maintain, easier to clean and also much more flexible by using shuttle trolleys instead of chain conveyors.

New cheese dairy

As the Beemster® brand grew, the old cheese dairy became too small and outdated. CONO decided to build a new dairy right next to the old one. Not an easy project, because the Beemster Polder is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building therefore had to match the surroundings and was only allowed to be 8 meters high, for example. This meant that both the warehouse and the treatment line were built 5 meters underground.

In 2014, CONO Kaasmakers opened the doors of their new cheese dairy. This 230 meter long building is built in line with the polder and seamlessly integrated into the tight parcelling of the vast landscape. "The result is admirable," says Maro. "One of the most beautiful cheese dairies I have ever seen."

Large-scale automation

The iconic building also got new equipment, combining state-of-the-art technology with traditional production methods. “In terms of ARBO, CONO was no longer compliant,” says Tijs Roeland, Manager Technology & Projects at CONO Kaasmakers. "Various operations that were still done manually were outdated. By automating this more and more, the work also becomes safer and safer."

DERO GROEP supplied two complete treatment lines and a delivery line. "An exciting period," Maro recalls. "DERO and ELTEN had just merged and this was one of our first major orders. Fortunately, the colleagues at ELTEN were used to this kind of extensive projects and it all went super well in the end."

The various automated lines that DERO GROEP has supplied to CONO Kaasmakers over the years.

Whereas in the old cheese warehouse much was still done manually, in the new cheese dairy as much as possible was automated. "Necessary, because of the larger capacity," says Maro. "But also essential for CONO's ambition to continuously improve sustainability and stay ahead in the industry. By using shuttles, for example, forklifts have disappeared from the process, and the cheese treatment lines and robots are energy-efficient and developed to new hygiene standards. Moreover, thanks to years of experience and further development, our installations last a very long time."

Sustainable in every detail

Cleaning cheese shelves requires a lot of energy. Washing, rinsing and drying require a lot of hot water and detergent. Initially, the shelves of the transport racks were still cleaned with an old standalone shelf washer - i.e. manually - but in 2023 a big step was taken here as well.

In the shelf washing area, DERO GROEP installed a fully automated shelf washing installation. Two robots and two vertical shelf washers took over the work, cleaning both sides of the shelf at the same time. This saves time, labor, energy, water and detergent, while increasing hygiene.

Honest and transparent cooperation

For CONO Kaasmakers, it makes sense to choose DERO GROEP again and again. "As an organization, we rely on long-term relationships," Tijs explains. "We find that we often benefit more from suppliers with whom we build a relationship than keep rotating on each project." The partnership works well because both parties have shared values and ambitions. Tijs: "DERO is actually much like CONO. It's an open organization, you can talk to anyone and at every level you get the same honest answer. That suits us."

That openness is also reflected in the cooperation itself. "The communication is transparent and the lines are short," Tijs continues. "And we are not afraid to go against each other, precisely because there is a strong and long relationship underneath. TThat makes for a clear, honest and open collaboration that is sustainable in every way."

Also want to build a sustainable and efficient cheese processing operation? DERO GROEP is happy to help you move forward with smart, future-proof automation. Contact us and discover the possibilities!