'With every new machine, we took another step forward'

Willem van der Linde runs a dairy farm with 380 cows, spread across 2 locations. In 2013, he put his first JOZ manure robot into operation. Several generations followed: from the JT200 to the JOZ Tech EVO Spray and eventually to 2 Nanos. Over all those years, Willem saw the technology change step by step. ‘With every new machine, it felt like we took another step forward.’

A forward-thinking choice for a manure robot

When Willem had a low-emission welfare floor installed in his stable in 2011, he also had to think about manure removal. Broadly speaking, there were 2 options: either a fixed manure scraper or a manure robot. ‘We wanted to keep the floor as open as possible for the cows’, Willem explains. ‘Without cables or other obstacles that could bother them. That’s why we moved towards a manure robot early on.’

At the time, that was quite a forward-thinking choice. So Willem took a good look around at other farms before investing. In the end, he chose the JT200 from JOZ. ‘What immediately appealed to me about this robot was the scraper width of 1.60 metres. Where other machines had to go back and forth several times, the JT200 only needed one pass to clean the route. That made it a lot more efficient.’

From JT200 to JOZ Tech

In the first years, the JT200 performed to his satisfaction, but as on any dairy farm, Willem and his dealer kept looking for improvements. In 2017, the first robot was replaced by a JOZ Tech EVO Spray. A second one was added in 2020.

‘The JOZ Tech was smarter than its predecessor. If it didn’t line up properly with the charging station, for example, it corrected itself until it was positioned correctly. ‘Those kinds of things really make a difference in practice’, says Willem. The spray system was another step forward. ‘The water gave the robot more grip and left the floor cleaner.’

Continuing to look for improvements together

Throughout all those years, Willem worked closely with his dealer Stalkracht. Personal contact played an especially important role. ‘I basically always call Frans Osinga’, he says. ‘We’ve known each other for years. He knows I’m technically minded and like to figure things out myself. He often only needs a few words to understand what’s going on.’

And according to Willem, that saves a lot of time. ‘You don’t have to explain your situation over and over or get transferred 3 times’, he says. ‘That just works well. And when something really matters, they’re there right away.’

There was also close cooperation when it came to optimising the robots. ‘We always kept looking for improvements together. Sometimes initiated by the dealer, sometimes by me. We’d add weight, adjust routes or look at the settings. Until everything was just right.’

A completely new way of thinking

After working for years with the JT200 and later the JOZ Tech, Willem was curious about the next step. When he heard that JOZ was working on a completely new manure robot, he decided to wait for it. ‘I’d already heard through the grapevine that JOZ was working on something new. I deliberately waited for that.’

That next step came with the Nano manure robot. Exactly the development Willem had been hoping for. The biggest innovation, in his view? It’s not in a single component, but in the complete design. ‘With the Nano, JOZ essentially overhauled the entire principle of the manure robot. I think that’s a very smart move.’

‘Where earlier generations worked with 3 wheels, the Nano has a completely different structure with 2 wheels’, Willem explains. ‘Both wheels provide drive and steering. What’s more, the motors are mounted directly on the wheels, so you have fewer rotating parts and fewer components that need maintenance or can break down. And that’s exactly what you want. In that respect, JOZ really went all the way.’

‘The Nano’s motors are also used in the feed pusher robot from JOZ’, Willem continues. ‘And that’s heavy work too. That’s why I was confident from the start that the Nano could handle the job.’

A clean floor, less downtime

Since 2025, 2 Nanos have been keeping the barn floors on Willem’s farm clean. To make them perform optimally on the smooth floor, various adjustments were made together with the dealer, including adding extra weight and adapting the settings.

The result? Willem sees it every day. ‘The floor is simply clean. You notice it straight away when you walk into the stable in the morning. You come in and it looks tidy. That genuinely puts you in a good mood.’ And the effect isn’t limited to the floor alone. ‘Because the Nanos regularly do their rounds, less manure is left behind. The cows stay cleaner, so you see fewer hoof problems.’

According to Willem, the value of the manure robots lies mainly in everyday convenience. ‘The robots keep running, the floor stays clean and I have to chase after them far less. That gives me peace of mind.’

Continuing to innovate

Looking back on the past years, Willem sees a clear development. ‘With every new machine, it felt like we took another step forward.’ That’s why he’s also positive about the future. ‘With the Nano, JOZ has really taken a new direction. They weren’t afraid to approach the design in a completely different way. That shows they move with the times.’

Want to know more?

Curious whether the Nano suits your stable and way of working? Contact a JOZ expert or dealer. We’re happy to think along with you about the best solution for your situation.