This opening act was performed by the famous Dutch astronaut André Kuipers, after he had given insight into what it was like to spend six months in space, the technological and environmental challenges that our planet is facing, as well as the success of international cooperation. During his lecture, he mentioned that on his next trip in space he would not only like to take Dutch cheese, but also some chocolate made by Duyvis Wiener technology.

After the official opening act by André Kuipers and CEO Mirjam van Dijk, the guests were divided in groups for a tour around the Technology Center and the production plant.

The customers were deeply impressed by the state-of-the-art 2,000 m² Technology Center. Featuring an R&D area, a pilot plant for trials and product development up-scalable to production size for all technologies within the group, the Technology Center allows customers to test and analyze their new products. And the company can perform trials for cocoa, chocolate or nuts, and develop recipes, as well as create analytical comparisons between all the different production methods available in the market.

The company relies on a team of food, process, and design engineers who work side by side to find the best possible solution for customers, by calculating every aspect of the process, such as taste, rheology, capacity, energy use, performance, etc.

After having finished their trials, customers can relax in the customer lounge, where they have a nice view over the entire pilot plant and showroom.

Then, on Jan. 29, family members, relatives and neighbors were invited to see the Technology Center, as well as the factory and the recently rebuilt offices.

As the doors opened at 2 p.m., visitors were already waiting in line to enter the premises. It was a unique opportunity to look inside a machine factory, and more than 2,500 people found their way to Royal Duyvis Wiener and were able to experience the world of cocoa, chocolate, nuts and technology.

 The company’s retired employees, who had the pleasure to meet with many of their former colleagues, were very impressed by the developments of the past years.

Whereas the focus of interest for adults was on the Technology Center, machine construction and the Duyvis history shown in the museum, the children were amused by Willy Wonka and the Oompa Loompa’s from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," the green screen, the make-up corner and lots of candy.

The Dutch Technology Center for cocoa, chocolate and nuts, open for everybody with a genuine interest in technology and development, is a logical step in the growth and development of the Royal Duyvis Wiener Group.

The move marked yet another huge stride forward in the centralization, innovation and development of the joint capabilities of Royal Duyvis Wiener and its companies: Duyvis, Wiener, F.B. Lehmann, Thouet, Log5 and JAF Inox.