High-tech company Beenen from Heerenveen officially joined Innovatiecluster Drachten on Friday 20 November in a special corona-proof hybrid meeting. This increases the business cluster to 23 members. 

"I don't think I've ever welcomed someone in such a weird way," the alderman began Robin Hartogh Heys of the municipality of Smallingerland gave his online speech. He welcomed the Heerenveen company to 'the most innovative club in the North' from behind his home office desk. He therefore didn't mean it wrong that the business cluster is increasingly 'getting out of balance', now that a company from outside Drachten is once again taking part. 'This fits well with the objective that we can best tackle challenges for the future by working together. If we want to put the North in the spotlight, we should not compete with each other, but work together and reinforce each other.' That is why, according to the alderman, it is good that more municipalities and provinces are getting involved in the Innovation Cluster. 'Then it will only get better in the future.' 

A concept

Councilor Hedwig Rinkes van Heerenveen agreed with these words. During the intermission of a physical meeting, she expressed her pride via an online connection. 'Beenen's entry into the Innovation Cluster is good for the region and the mutual cooperation between education and the business community. The entire Frisian economy benefits from this.' According to her, Beenen is a household name and not only in Heerenveen, but nationally and even internationally. 'Beenen has been around for 100 years for a reason!'

smarter

With customers such as Suikerunie, Domo, Avebe, Ola, DE, Huhtamaki, Philps and BASF Beenen not in the list of illustrious companies of the Innovation Cluster. Nevertheless, general manager Alex van Dalen is 'very honored' to be able to participate. 'We want to share our knowledge with other companies and put the Northern Netherlands on the map together,' says Van Dalen. According to him, developments in technology are going so fast that you can hardly keep up with them as a solo player. In a short presentation he introduced the ICD members to his company, as part of the much larger Batenburg. 'We use smart techniques to take our customers further. For example, by making a connection between control systems, robots and sensors, which makes existing factories smarter, with fewer malfunctions and therefore better production.' 

Smart Industry

ICD chairman Binne Visser is pleased that Beenen is now also part of the club. He has known the company for some time and knows that they can compete with the best in industrial technology. 'Beenen is at the heart of the smart industry and brings new knowledge to our cluster with experience in multiple sectors such as water, chemistry and food. That is of course the strength of our collaboration. That connects us.'