6 March 2026 Interview: The international dairy industry continues to scale up – and Fullwood is ready for the next step!
Fullwood recently welcomed Daniël Dammann as Head of Commercial. He leads our global sales activities and is responsible for, among other things, the extensive dealer network. Daniël spoke with CEO Maarten van Raaij about a hot topic: scaling up in the international livestock industry. They did this in front of the new Fullwood R&D building in Utrecht (see photo).
“At Fullwood, we’ve had a strong position in the market for years with our M²erlin milking machines, which are widely used by farmers with a maximum of 400 cows,” says Daniël. “Additionally, we’re very well positioned for an important market development: significant scale-up.” Maarten continues: “As early as 2018, we introduced our Meridian system: an advanced method that enables batch-milking with M²erlins for large herds. This approach seamlessly fits a new reality. The market is changing, and in various countries, farmers are joining forces and clustering. We also see many regions investing in new mega-farms that are fully automated. Suddenly, we’re talking about farms with 1500+ cows. Together with our dealers in over 80 countries, we help these customers with the challenges that go along with it —especially in the area of batch-milking. Or actually, the opportunities, because the combination of scaling up and batch-milking offers major advantages.”
Fullwood Family
Daniël: “We ensure that dairy farmers whose herds double—or even more—can make the transition to a much larger operation seamlessly. This way, they can continue using the trusted M²erlin milking robot and the technology, data, and flexibility they’re accustomed to. The design is perfectly suited for integration into a new, extensive, and more complex milking environment.” For Maarten, having support during significant growth is a great example of being part of the Fullwood Family: “If you’re part of it, our own people and the dealers in various countries are there for you at any moment, regardless of the question or need. And not unimportantly: during a major change in your operations, you keep your trusted point of contact.” He emphasizes that customers can count on the same service regardless of the size of their operations. “As a small farmer, you’re just as relevant to us as a big player.”
Energy and Drive
Daniël sees the scaling up in the livestock industry in growth markets like the Czech Republic, but also in countries like Italy and Germany, where Fullwood has been active for a long time. “That market is significantly shifting, and thanks to our experience and local network, we can address it with our partners. There’s tremendous energy and drive among the teams in the different countries to capitalize on a large number of opportunities in the coming years. It’s like we’re training for a marathon. And we’re going to win it.” Maarten: “With Daniël as Head of Commercial, we have someone who combines a passion for technological innovation with building and maintaining strong relationships. That fits perfectly with our goals and ambitions!”
