Tanis creates bespoke production lines for a portfolio of international manufacturers of gummies and jellies. Founder Leo Tanis, CMO Wouter Tanis, CTO Martijn Tanis and Sales Manager Victor Tanis outlined the family ethos and latest developments at the company. Report by Phil Nicholls.
The growth of Netherlands-based Tanis over the past years has led to the establishment of a complete portfolio of machinery for the production of gummies and jellies. The breadth of experience and innovation at the company combine to create a one-stop shop for an impressive range of international clients.
“Our customers no longer need to approach multiple entities for a complete production line,” said Sales Manager Victor Tanis. “Instead, they can rely on a single entity where all the necessary knowledge is present throughout the entire process. Tanis strongly believes that the final result of the last machine is closely connected to the initial phase of the production line. Avoiding and resolving any imperfections is significantly easier than when working with multiple suppliers.”
A story of vision
In 1995, the Tanis brothers founded Tanis initially as a process engineering consultancy company. Thanks to the encouragement of loyal customers, the brothers dared to think big, and in 2005 they moved to a new location with their own production facility and took full control of manufacturing.
Steady growth continued at the family-owned company, alongside a more specific focus on the confectionery category of gummies and jellies. “We charted our own course and seized the opportunities that came our way,” Founder Leo Tanis recalled. “It’s amazing to see how Tanis has developed.”
Today, Tanis supplies complete production lines and personalised support; all of which is inspired by its exceptional, continuously
developing knowledge and craftmanship in sugar (and non-sugar) confectionery and process technology.
The headquarters is located in The Netherlands, which includes the primary production centre, Innovation Centre, pilot plant and support hub all – in Oosterhout. Tanis has a second production centre based in Made, The Netherlands. The global scope and market presence of Tanis results in another production centre and a support hub in Sydney, Australia. Due to its strong position in the United States, Tanis has also established a dedicated support hub in Salt Lake City. The company’s total staff recently surpassed 300.
A story of innovation
“By specialising in both the confectionery and the OTC market, Tanis has grown into the most experienced partner in both starch and non-starch solutions,” said Victor Tanis. “The expertise of the Tanis OTC Candy Equipment division has been instrumental in driving the growth of nutraceutical gummies in the United States.
When Tanis entered this market, there were already smaller non-starch
systems available. However, these all relied on moulds made of porous silicone, which is less cleanable compared to Tanis’ polycarbonate moulds. This starch-free production process is essential due to the need for cleanliness, primarily to minimise the risk of cross-contamination of certain dietary supplements in the casting material.
Tanis’ innovative approach has not only improved product quality, but also enhanced production efficiency and reliability. “Consumers do not realise it, but the confectionery industry is constantly evolving,” Victor Tanis continued. “Tanis is fully investing in this development.
“For instance, we have a unique vision for the use of moulding starch in gummy production. Despite the growing popularity of non-starch processes and the competition faced by the traditional moulding starch system, Tanis continues to invest in the development of starch processes.”
A recent innovation is an advanced drying chamber that eliminates the need for reconditioning the moulding starch, allowing for space savings and further scalability of production. Tanis believes in the benefits and future of both starch and non-starch processes. With this dualistic approach, Tanis demonstrates innovation, versatility and a pioneering role in the candy industry.
A family story
Tanis’ work ethic and dedication to the customer makes this family-owned company stand out. Managing expectations can be a challenge, but Tanis is determined to
address possible problems as quickly and efficiently as possible. The characteristic depth of knowledge at Tanis enables the company to solve problems and deliver a complete production line solution to customers. Whether it is the challenge of sharing this knowledge or setting a world record, Tanis is ready to find an innovative solution.
This extensive experience within the company is evident at the Tanis Academy, which helps to guide confectionery producers on an innovative journey to create their customised products. This entails taking everyone interested in confectionery making and supporting them at every step of the process.
Even for companies new to the industry and unfamiliar with confectionery preparation, Tanis is ready to teach the fundamentals. The Academy also provides valuable training for new operators, helping them become familiar with operating advanced machinery.
Furthermore, Tanis actively shares knowledge about innovations, trends and developments in the confectionery field through lectures delivered by expert food technologists.
The Academy forms a crucial part of Tanis’ continuous efforts to fulfil its core mission: taking confectionery producers by the hand on an innovative journey to create their products.
One such innovative journey was Tanis’ achievement of a Guinness World Record for the largest Gummy Bear in the world. Under the watchful eye of a representative from Guinness, the total weight of this enormous gummy candy was determined to be 1,728 kilograms.
“It was truly a remarkable exercise,” recalled CMO Wouter Tanis. “We didn’t know exactly know what the end result would look like, but that’s what made it so exciting. Together with our team, we worked step-by-step on innovative process and recipe adjustments, enabling us to achieve this unprecedented size of 2.5 metres long.
“This was a wonderful example of how Tanis is willing to push boundaries and make the impossible possible.”
“We have demonstrated that it is possible to produce a gummy of this magnitude without using moulding starch,” agreed CTO Martijn Tanis. We are proud of the result and look forward to continuing our pursuit of progress and innovation at Tanis.”
The same passion and dedication that Leo and his sons have always demonstrated towards customers are qualities they also cherish when it comes to attracting colleagues and suppliers. The company is run like a close-knit family, where customers, colleagues and suppliers are all considered valued members.
A willingness to persevere regardless of obstacles and the ability to solve problems are characteristic of Tanis. This ethos led Leo Tanis to gain friends who eventually encouraged him to start his own company. These friends were his very first customers; and even after 27 years, Tanis maintains the same principles with every new customer: dedication and determination.
