Caotech B.v.

What Caotech B.v. does

Caotech B.V. is a privately held Dutch manufacturer founded in 1997 and headquartered in Wormerveer, the Netherlands, specializing in grinding, mixing, conching and processing equipment for the cocoa, chocolate, compound, ice-cream and bakery industries. Its core technology is the low-speed agitated ball mill with direct drive, deployed across single ball mills (CAO 1000, 3000, 4000), batch-type combined mixer/conch/grinder units (CHOCOCON series, CAO B-series), continuous in-line production systems (CAO 3000[2]/4000[2]/4000[3] IN-LINE and CHOC variants), wet and dry conching equipment (CWC, DC), beater blade pre-grinders (PG Series), nut pre-grinders (CM-18, CM-24), tube heat exchangers (CTE Series) and a laboratory line (CAO B5, CWC 5, CHOCOCON 100). Caotech serves both industrial multinationals and small/medium enterprises with equipment ranging from laboratory batch units (5 kg) to multi-ton-per-hour continuous lines and complete turn-key projects, achieving end-fineness up to 99.9% through a 75 micron sieve on cocoa liquor.

The company generates revenue primarily through quote-based hardware sales of single machines, production lines and turn-key projects, supplemented by spare/wearing parts supply and on-site installation, repair, maintenance and recipe-development services delivered by qualified engineers and an in-house laboratory. Pricing is custom and negotiated, with multi-year contracts typical for larger installations. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales from Wormerveer with a worldwide network of local-language agents and direct-to-customer delivery to buyers in cocoa processing, chocolate manufacturing, compound and ice-cream coatings, bread spreads, and nuts/seeds processing. Customer mixes SMEs requiring cost-effective single-machine flexibility with leading multinational confectioners requiring complex, multi-unit turn-key lines executed by experienced engineers and project managers.

Name

Caotech B.v.

Legal name

Caotech B.V.

Website

https://caotech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Caotech B.V., founded in 1997 in Wormerveer, the Netherlands, designs and manufactures low-speed agitated ball mills, conching equipment, beater blade mills and turn-key processing lines for the global cocoa, chocolate, compound, ice-cream and bakery industries, serving both industrial multinationals and SMEs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wormerveer

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery Sales: Sale of ball mills, beater blade mills, conching units, mixers, and filling equipment for processing cocoa, chocolate, compounds, bread spreads and similar products. Ranges from single machines to complete production lines and turn-key projects.
2. Spare Parts and Wearing Parts: Supply of all necessary wearing parts and spare parts to ensure continuous operation of equipment. Quote service available for specific equipment parts.
3. Service and Installation: Qualified engineers provide on-site installation, repair services, and technical support. State-of-the-art laboratory available for recipe development and ingredient testing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Caotech B.V. designs, manufactures, and supplies low-speed agitated ball mills, beater blade mills, conching equipment, mixers, heat exchangers, and nut grinders for processing cocoa liquor, chocolate, compounds, ice-cream coatings, bread spreads, and high-fat-content nuts and seeds. The company sells single machines (5 kg/h to several tons per hour), complete production lines, and full turn-key projects to industrial food manufacturers worldwide, and also provides spare parts, installation, and on-site service.

Product overview

Caotech B.V. is a manufacturer of ball mills and processing equipment for the cocoa, chocolate, compound, ice-cream, and bakery industry. The product portfolio consists of Single Ball Mills (CAO 1000, CAO 3000, CAO 4000) for fine grinding; Batch Type Machines including CHOCOCON 150/250, CAO B3000, CAO B4000-CHOC, and CAO B3000-CHOC DUO for batch mixing, grinding and conching; Continuous Lines combining multiple ball mills with PLC control for high-capacity production (CAO 3000[2] IN-LINE, CAO 4000[2] IN-LINE, CAO 4000[3] IN-LINE, and CHOC variants); Conching Equipment (CWC 1000 wet conche, DC 500 dry conche); Beater Blade Mills (PG 3000, PG 6000) for pre-grinding; Laboratory Machines (CAO B5, CWC 5, CHOCOCON 100) for testing; Nut Grinders (CM-18, CM-24); and Heat Exchangers (CTE series). The company supplies single machines, complete production lines, and turn-key projects worldwide to the cocoa, confectionery, ice cream, and bakery industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CAO 1000 Single low-speed agitated ball mill with direct drive designed for fine grinding of cocoa liquor (up to 1,200 kg/h), chocolate, and fat-based compounds (up to 500 kg/h with powdered sugar), achieving end-fineness up to 99.9% through 75 micron sieve. Targeted at industrial food processors.
• CAO 3000 Single low-speed agitated ball mill with direct drive for fine grinding of cocoa liquor (up to 3,000 kg/h), chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds (up to 1,200 kg/h with powdered sugar). One of Caotech's most widely deployed single ball mills.
• CAO 4000 Single low-speed agitated-type ball mill with direct drive for fine grinding of cocoa liquor (up to 4,000 kg/h), chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds (up to 1,500 kg/h with powdered sugar). Used standalone or in combination with mixers and refiner conches for continuous lines.
• CHOCOCON 150 Batch-type machine combining a horizontal 500L mixer/conch with a vertical low-speed ball mill (CAO C150) for mixing, fine grinding, and conching of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. 500 kg batch capacity, ~3 hours processing time with crystal sugar to reach 22-25 micron fineness.
• CHOCOCON 250 Batch-type machine combining a horizontal 500L mixer/conch with a vertical low-speed ball mill (CAO C250) for mixing, fine grinding, and conching of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. 500 kg batch capacity, ~2 hours processing time with crystal sugar to reach 22-25 micron fineness.
• CAO B3000 Batch-type machine combining a horizontal 500L mixer/conch with a vertical low-speed ball mill (CAO C3000) for mixing, fine grinding, and conching of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. 500 kg batch capacity, ~50 minutes processing time with crystal sugar. Recently upgraded with a redesigned mixer opening for faster ingredient loading.
• CAO B4000-CHOC PLC-based batch production line integrating a CAO C4000 ball mill with the Mini Mix weighing/mixing/dosing unit for automated batch weighing, mixing, grinding, and conching of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. 1,000 kg batch capacity, up to 1,000 kg/h effective hourly capacity with crystal sugar.
• CAO B3000-CHOC DUO Fully automatic batch production line based on two CAO C3000 ball mills combined with a Mini Mix weighing/mixing unit for automated weighing, mixing, grinding, and conching of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. 1,000 kg batch capacity, up to 900 kg/h effective hourly capacity with crystal sugar.
• CAO 3000[2] IN-LINE Continuous production line based on two CAO 3000 low-speed agitated ball mills with integrated control system, for continuous fine grinding of cocoa liquor (up to 3,000 kg/h), chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds (up to 1,500 kg/h with crystal sugar).
• CAO 4000[2] IN-LINE Continuous production line based on two CAO 4000 low-speed agitated ball mills with integrated control system, for continuous fine grinding of cocoa liquor (up to 3,000 kg/h), chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds (up to 2,000 kg/h with crystal sugar). End-fineness up to 99.9% through 75 micron sieve for cocoa liquor.
• CAO 4000[3] IN-LINE Continuous production line based on three CAO 4000 low-speed agitated ball mills with integrated control system, for continuous fine grinding of cocoa liquor (up to 4,000 kg/h), chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds (up to 2,500 kg/h with crystal sugar).
• CAO 3000-CHOC Fully automatic continuous production line combining a CAO 3000 low-speed agitated ball mill with the Mini Mix mixing/dosing unit, with PLC-controlled weighing, mixing, conching, and continuous fine grinding of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. Capacity up to 1,200 kg/h with powdered sugar, end fineness 24-27 microns.
• CAO 4000-CHOC Fully automatic continuous production line combining a CAO 4000 low-speed agitated ball mill with the Mini Mix mixing/dosing unit, with PLC-controlled weighing, mixing, conching, and continuous fine grinding of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. Capacity up to 1,500 kg/h with powdered sugar, end fineness 24-27 microns.
• CAO 3000[2]-CHOC IN-LINE Fully automatic continuous production line based on two CAO 3000 low-speed agitated ball mills combined with the Mini Mix mixing/dosing unit, with PLC-controlled weighing, mixing, conching, and continuous fine grinding of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. Capacity up to 1,500 kg/h with crystal sugar.
• CAO 4000[2]-CHOC IN-LINE Fully automatic continuous production line based on two CAO 4000 low-speed agitated ball mills combined with the Mini Mix mixing/dosing unit, with PLC-controlled weighing, mixing, conching, and continuous fine grinding of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. Capacity up to 2,000 kg/h with crystal sugar.
• CAO 4000[3]-CHOC IN-LINE Fully automatic continuous production line based on three CAO 4000 low-speed agitated ball mills combined with the Mini Mix mixing/dosing unit, with PLC-controlled weighing, mixing, conching, and continuous fine grinding of chocolate, creams, bread spreads, and fat-based compounds. Capacity up to 2,500 kg/h with crystal sugar.
• CWC 1000 Wet conching system for mixing, homogenization, and removal of volatiles, acids, and moisture from chocolate and chocolate-related masses via thin-film evaporation using a fast-rotating disc. Achieves improved viscosity, yield, and taste characteristics. Capacity up to 1,000 kg/h.
• DC 500 Dry conche for mixing, homogenizing, and conching chocolate. Removes undesirable volatiles and moisture to develop taste, aroma, and viscosity characteristics. Operates with fat percentages as low as 22-25%, and can be integrated with the CHOCOCON 150/250 grinding installation. 500 kg batch capacity, average conche time up to 4 hours.
• PG Series (Beater Blade Mills) Continuous beater blade mills for pre-grinding of cocoa nibs and various high-fat-content seeds and nuts (e.g., hazelnuts). Includes the PG 3000 (up to 4,000 kg/h, 165 kW) and PG 6000 (up to 6,000 kg/h, 205 kW) variants. Described as one of the latest and most efficient beater blade mills on the market.
• CAO B5 Compact and efficient laboratory ball mill refiner. 5 kg batch capacity with ~30 minutes grinding time depending on recipe and required end fineness. Used by food manufacturers to test recipes in small batches before scaling up to larger production.
• CWC 5 Most compact conche in Caotech's range, designed for conching small batches of chocolate, compounds, bread spreads, and coatings in laboratory settings. 5 kg batch capacity, reduces moisture content down to 0.9% and in some cases to 0.7% humidity. Used for testing and optimizing taste in small batches.
• CHOCOCON 100

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FBM (Forbes Business Machines): Italian manufacturer of chocolate processing equipment including ball mills, mixers, and refiners; a directly comparable niche competitor in chocolate machinery serving similar industrial customers.
• Lehmann Maschinenbau: German specialist in chocolate processing equipment including five-roller refiners and ball mills; directly comparable niche competitor to Caotech in chocolate processing machinery.
• Netzsch-Feinmahltechnik: German manufacturer of fine grinding and dispersing equipment, including for chocolate compounds and similar fat-based food applications; competes directly with Caotech's low-speed agitated ball mill technology.
• Royal Duyvis Wiener: Royal Duyvis Wiener, also based in the Netherlands near Amsterdam, manufactures cocoa and chocolate processing equipment including ball mills, refiners, and conches — making it the closest direct competitor to Caotech in cocoa processing machinery.
• LCM Italia: Italian specialist in chocolate processing machinery including continuous and batch ball mills; directly competes with Caotech in the chocolate equipment market.

Broad incumbents

• GEA Group: Large German industrial conglomerate with an extensive food processing equipment portfolio, including separation, homogenization, and mixing; competes broadly with Caotech for large food processing projects.
• Baker Perkins: UK-based manufacturer of food processing equipment including chocolate and confectionery machinery; broader portfolio but overlapping customer base with Caotech in industrial confectionery.
• Hosokawa Micron: Global manufacturer of powder and particle processing equipment including food applications; broader portfolio than Caotech but overlapping grinding and classification technology.
• Bühler Group: Swiss global leader in food processing equipment including cocoa processing, chocolate manufacturing, and grain processing; a much larger incumbent serving many of the same enterprise customers as Caotech.
• Alfa Laval: Large Swedish industrial equipment manufacturer with food processing and heat-exchange capabilities; competes in adjacent processing equipment categories where Caotech's CTE heat exchangers also serve customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/caotech-grinding-technology

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Caotech B.v.