Customercase: “A fruitful investment.”
Back to overview“A fruitful investment.”
We are welcomed by Maurice Hadders, potato grower in the countryside on the border between Flevoland and Friesland. The processing of potatoes is ongoing at full capacity, but luckily Maurice does have time to sit down and talk to us. We sit around a large round kitchen table, with coffee served in Boerenbond. We talk about the move to Schouten Optica CS. A deliberate and exciting choice, which the family and all employees benefit from.
“We are a true family business, and we help each other"
“Once I had done my calculations, I had no choice but to take this step"
Better turnover and more balance
Maurice: “It’s two years later, and I am very satisfied with the results. We can process up to 40% more potatoes than we did with our old installation, and more potatoes in seed size can be sold thanks to the precise vision (camera) technique of the Optica CS. Furthermore, I have been able to save on employee costs, because the machine can detect and cut clods, rocks and form deviations. It has also brought me and my employees increased job satisfaction. And you can’t put a price on that, if you ask me. We can now drink coffee together while the machine works. And I pick up my kids from school, because I can. And while face masks are becoming more and more common, I don’t need it at work anymore. Because dust is no longer an issue. It’s a shame that my father is no longer with us, I would have been proud to show him our new machine”.
A choice with a lot of impact? Take your time
Maurice: “I have made the right choice, among other things because I took plenty of time to prepare. I wasn’t ready to take this step yet 5 years ago. First, I got the chance to buy more land. As a result, my acreage of seed potatoes also increased, and I knew: now is the time. So, I would advise everyone reading this not to be hasty. Make a well-considered choice. And when the time is right, grab your chance and make sure you can act right away”.
We end our visit with a tour and photoshoot in the processing area. And, excited as he is, Maurice puts a beautiful bag of potatoes in the trunk of our car when we leave. “Don’t peel them, just scrub them, cut them into slices and put them in the oven for 40 minutes with a bit of olive oil.” A potato grower through and through!
