SPECIALIST IN FEED TECHNOLOGY FOR DAIRY AND BEEF FARMING

Today’s world bears little resemblance to that of 1950. Technology is advancing rapidly, markets are changing, and entrepreneurs must constantly anticipate new challenges. For the agricultural family business Trioliet, this is nothing new. For 76 years, the specialist in feeding technology has evolved alongside developments in the dairy and beef farming sectors. What started as a small family business in North Holland has grown into an international player operating in more than fifty countries, with its headquarters in Oldenzaal. Yet one thing has remained the same: the conviction that you only stay relevant by continuously innovating.

While many agricultural machinery manufacturers offer a broad product range, Trioliet deliberately focuses on feeding technology for dairy and beef farmers. From silage cutters to advanced feeding robots, everything revolves around one goal: optimally feeding cattle. “Global dairy consumption grows by 2 to 3% every year. That is the driving force behind our business. That dairy has to be produced somewhere,” says Robert Liet, the second generation within the family business. “Precisely because we focus on one aspect of agriculture, we can dedicate all our knowledge, time, and energy to it.”

Keeping pace with a changing agricultural sector

The best example of Trioliet’s innovative strength is the development of the feed mixer wagon. Today, this product forms the core of the company, but its evolution mainly illustrates how much the agricultural sector has changed over the past decades. In the past, farmers stored their hay in lofts and worked with simple transport systems, but over time haylofts gave way to silos, and silos were replaced by bunker silos as the number of animals per farm continued to increase.

Trioliet grew along with these developments. Machines became larger, more efficient, and smarter. The feed mixer wagon evolved from a relatively small aid into an essential part of modern cattle farms. “You adapt to the circumstances. Farms change, the environment changes, so your machines have to change as well,” Robert explains. The impact of these innovations is significant. By carefully mixing different types of feed, cows receive a balanced ration. This not only ensures a better distribution of nutrients within groups of cows but also contributes to higher milk production.

Innovation is therefore essential within cattle farming. That is why Trioliet has also developed an electric feeding robot that can feed livestock autonomously several times a day without human intervention. They operate quietly, consume less energy, and meet the growing demand for sustainable solutions in agriculture. “Machines should not only perform better,” Robert says. “They should also become more sustainable, consume less energy, and last longer. These are developments we continuously respond to.”

Thinking in generations

However, innovation at Trioliet is not only about new machines. Many decisions are driven by a way of doing business that is closely connected to the family-owned nature of the company. Whereas many large companies invest based on short-term returns, Trioliet consciously looks much further ahead. Robert sees this as one of the greatest advantages of a family business. “You make different decisions. You focus much more on the long term.” For example, in 2018 Trioliet invested in 4,400 solar panels to become self-sufficient in terms of energy, and the company is now also investing in large-scale battery storage. According to Robert, investments with a long payback period are essential: “Especially if you want to build a company that remains future proof for the next generations.”

At the same time, the family business also faces challenges that many entrepreneurs will recognize. That is precisely why Robert decided to join the board of Family Next, the programme of the Province of Overijssel that brings family businesses together and is carried out in Twente by Novel-T. “You very often see that the challenges are the same everywhere. Family succession, discussions within the family… How do you deal with that? We are happy to contribute to that area.”

Building for the future

Looking ahead to the next ten years, Robert’s ambition remains deliberately modest. No spectacular expansion into new markets or completely different products, but controlled growth based on the company’s existing strengths. “We will simply continue doing what we are good at, in a healthy and responsible way,” says Robert. “Our focus will remain on sustainable growth, technological development, and strengthening our position as a specialist with the sector.”

Whatever the future may bring, one thing seems certain: just as it has for the past 76 years, Trioliet will continue to move with the changes in the world around it. Not by wanting to do everything differently but staying true to what made the company successful: craftmanship, innovation, and thinking in generations.