Kind Technologies strengthens its position in the horticulture greenhouse market by acquiring Martin Stolze

Kind Technologies, Dutch high-tech group specialized in industrial automation through robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence, expands its position in the horticultural greenhouse market with the acquisition of Martin Stolze B.V., a total supplier of internal transport automation for the horticultural greenhouse sector.

Kind Technologies acquires Martin Stolze to implement its strategy of substantially focusing on research and development, services, as well as acquisitions and strategic alliances.

Both companies see a worldwide increasing demand for automation in the agricultural and food processing markets. Rising labor costs and scarcity, focus on food safety, and the use of data to improve process are important drivers of companies’ growth strategy. As an expert in the internal transport of products in horticultural, distribution and packaging centers, Martin Stolze is a valuable extension of the portfolio of Kind Technologies, which operates in the horticulture with its KOAT and Crux Agribotics brands.

Following the expansion, Managing Director Wido Kruijswijk will continue to lead Martin Stolze with an existing team of 57 employees in De Liere, The Netherlands, and will continue to operate under its current name.

Alex E. Kind, CEO of Kind Technologies, commented that with this acquisition, the group is accelerate its horticultural growth strategy. With this expansion step, they secure their presence in the greenport region Westland, one of the world's most innovative regions in the field of greenhouse horticultural. “We are positioning ourselves as the preferred system supplier for the entire horticultural value chain, including growers, greenhouse builders, assembly and automation companies,” he said.

According to Martin Stolze, the former owner and founder of the company, the joining to Kind Technologies, give opportunity to gain access to their expertise in managing growth and further professionalize business processes, attract new talent and expand their offerings.

Kind Technologies is a high-tech group specialized in industrial automation through robotics, computer vision and artificial intelligence. The company has developed the award-winning SortiPack® system for automatic grading, sorting and packaging of organic products, fruit and vegetables, enabling greenhouse growers and packaging centers to increase productivity with less dependence on human labor and use crop data available from the system. As Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), the group supplies systems to the agricultural and food processing markets around the world.

Click here for more information about Kind Technologies.

Martin Stolze has been providing service and quality in internal transport for the greenhouse industry since 1991. In its own workshop, the company produce conveyor and buffer belts, main and roller conveyors, potting machines, watering stations, chain and pot forks, soil conveyors belts and accessories. These different systems can be combined in total projects and provided with a complete computer control. Martin Stolze also offers value-added services to assist and guide OEMs, resellers, partners and customers implement complete automation projects.

More information about the company can be found on its website.