De Schans is successfully pioneering its own mini loaders

Four years after introducing its own brand Relly, De Schans from Hedel was at the bauma, the world's largest equipment trade fair in Munich, for the first time. Not just somewhere in a corner, but prominently on the outdoor area with an impressive 44-meter-wide stand, complete with a terrace, live demos and fifteen mini loaders. "A Dutch party," as commercial manager Jan-Willem Slegh aptly describes it. "We wanted to bring the atmosphere of the TKD to Germany and we succeeded."

Participation in the bauma marks a special moment. After all, De Schans exists exactly thirty years. From a specialist in Knikmops machines for pavers to the manufacturer of a completely in-house line of compact wheel loaders - the Relly - the company has travelled an impressive growth path. "The fact that we are now among all these big global brands with our own brand feels like the icing on the cake," adds salesman Niels Oltmans.

Together with Almi of Vriezenveen, manufacturer of stone cutters and tire clamps, De Schans filled the joint booth. "We serve the same target group. They supply the craft, we supply the machines." With two demo bins - one for diesel machines and one for electric - the public could see the Rellys in action. And that audience was massive. "Of the 600,000 trade show visitors, we had at least 100,000 at our booth," Slegh estimated with a big grin.

Solid construction 

"We stood out among all the violence of big, bigger, biggest." And not just in terms of the show element. "You saw people really inspecting the machines. The construction and welds obviously tell a lot about how solid the Relly's are built underneath as well. The best of everything we've come across in the market over the years has now been combined in one machine built from scratch."

An important goal of the participation was to strengthen the German dealer network. This succeeded, as several potential dealers visited the booth. International interest was overwhelming anyway. "What we put in terms of technology and solidity in such a compact machine, other manufacturers admire that as well," says Oltmans. "We gained contacts all over the world."

A real eye-catcher was the Relly 1.8C, shown on a trailer. This 2.1-ton articulated loader with a 44-hp diesel engine can effortlessly lift a pack of rocks. "We are proud that our loaders still boast the highest lifting capacity in their class," Slegh said. The R 1.8C is still the undisputed bestseller in the range. The slightly smaller R 1.3C was on display in both standard orange and the tough Black Edition.

Electric grows

Yet the focus within De Schans is increasingly on emission-free operations. The Relly 1.8E - quiet, powerful and now with 60 kWh battery pack - attracted a lot of attention. "The demand for electric equipment is increasing rapidly," Slegh knows. "The Netherlands and Scandinavia are leading the way, but zero-emission is also gaining serious ground in Germany, Belgium and France. Our models are catching on because we started with a blank drawing board. So no compromises."

That approach is bearing fruit. Production capacity continues to be scaled up, with the goal of building 1,000 Rellys annually starting in 2028, two-thirds of them for export. "Confidence is growing. Customers who bought one Relly are coming back for a second or third. Often a demo is no longer even necessary. 'If De Schans is behind it, it must be good,' we often hear. The snowball is really starting to roll now," said Oltmans.

All machines presented at bauma were equipped with a folding roof without four-point attachment. For the R 1.8, a closed cab and a new weighing system with sensors were also shown, ideal for filling big bags, for example.

Full speed ahead

After the success at bauma, De Schans is looking ahead with great energy to the TKD in June. "There we want even more interaction with the public," states Oltmans. "Driving, experiencing, feeling for yourself. That suits who we are. No slick show, but real action from a passion for technology." With the growing demand for compact and electric solutions, an ever-expanding dealer network and a recognizable own style, the snowball does indeed seem to be rolling for Relly. And if it is up to De Schans, it will roll on at full speed - towards a successful future, under its own steam.