What started in the seventies with the emergency sale of some agricultural machines by Dutch vegetable grower Bert Duijndam, has now grown into a large international trading company in used agricultural and horticultural machinery. The company supplies used machines suitable for sowing till packaging of fruit and vegetables. In addition, they have an extensive range of conveyor belts. Like a real family company Bert passed on the 1st of January 2020 the baton to his sons Robbert and Maurijn. Together with their team, the two will continue this remarkable story of growth.
Maurijn, Bert and Robbert Duijndam in the company hall full of machines
Sprout harvester
Before looking at the future, let's take a look at the past, because the remarkable start of the company is too good not to tell. Bert, founder and vegetable grower at the time: "The first machine I sold was a sprout harvester. The turnover in the third year after I had started growing was disappointing and I had just made significant investment in machines. To meet my obligations, I decided to sell these machines, and to my surprise, I was able to sell my entire inventory at a good price pretty quickly."
Bert with a sprout harvester, the first machine he sold
Bert discovered accidentally that there was a high demand for used machines, and started a trading company besides the nursery, to fully focus on this company in the early nineties. "I love technology, mechanisation, progress and trade, and immediately felt at home in the machines."
Online
The internet plays an increasingly important role in this. Son Robbert fully invested in this when he entered the company in 2012. It results in a website which lists more than 900 machines, for the open field, the greenhouse horticulture, bulbs, ornamental cultivation and fruit cultivation. But the processing and packaging of products are increasingly popular, so also here more machines are required.
"On average, four machines are sold daily, and we buy similar numbers", Maurijn adds. He is responsible for the purchase and also a son of Bert. Maurijn entered the company in 2016 to further optimize the company. "Sixty percent of the machines we sell, is sold without being seen at out location." It shows customers rely on our expertise, according to Robbert, who does sales. "And we do not want to disappoint this confidence by buying good machines. The machines are checked for proper functioning and are repaired if necessary. Customers can buy a properly functioning machine against a much lower price than a new machine."
Price
The last is an important reason why growers increasingly use second hand machines. Bert: "I like to see ourselves as interconnected vessels of the market. When growers see potential in a new cultivation, other machines are required. We always supply these at a much lower cost than new. For growers who regularly change cultivation, this is interesting. The lower ROI also attracts international growers who first want to tentatively try a cultivation first."
The gentlemen note that in Europe it are often the medium and smaller entrepreneurs who come to them, while also companies outside of Europe are interested. "Such growers in remote areas often have their own workshop and always manage to fit the machines into their own processes."
Growth
The Covid-19 crisis caused a small dip this year in the sales of machines, but it did not last long. "After the first corona shock, demand did not decrease, and even now, at the end of November, normally a quiet period, it is busy."
Duijndam Machines is continually growing and is now looking for a new, larger location. "A building plot of 2 hectare would be ideal. Or a roofed company hall with minimally 10,000 square meter, to give us the option to keep an even larger and interesting stock. More space means also working more comfortably."
Finally, Duijndam Machines also sees growth in the sales in consignation. This means that Duijndam Machines takes care of the sales and that the machine remains with the customer. "For certain installations, this is an ideal solution, because it can stay in line and it is presented much better than disassembled. Our extensive and global network of growers is important to customers as to why they choose to work with us.”
Offering machines or a complete inventory is possible via: inkoop@duijndam-machines.com
For more information: 
Duijndam Machines
Tweede Tochtweg 127
2913 LR Nieuwerkerk a/d IJssel
+31 (0)180 632 088
www.duijndam-machines.com
info@duijndam-machines.com