May 28, 2025 – Key Technology (Key), a member of Duravant’s Food Sorting and Handling group, announces the appointment of Robert van Dorst to Managing Director Key EMEA/Asia. Based in the Netherlands, van Dorst is responsible for developing and leading strategies that bring Key’s advanced optical sorting, conveying and other automation systems, as well as best-in-class service, to food processors and packers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) as well as Asia.
“The EMEA and Asia regions contain some of the world's fastest-growing economies, making strong regional leadership essential to serving our customers here effectively,” said Jack Lee, Duravant Group President - Food Sorting and Handling. “Robert has a track record for managing exceptional global teams, with proven success driving growth. His focused approach and strategic mindset will help build on our legacy of innovation while expanding our capabilities in target markets.”
With more than two decades of executive experience in high-tech manufacturing, van Dorst most recently worked as Managing Director of Canline Holding and President of its U.S. division. Prior to that, he held managing director roles at Cremer Special Machines and at a Stork SPG company. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration in Toulouse, France, completed his technical studies at MIT in Boston, USA and earned a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands.
"I'm excited to join Key Technology with its rich 75-year history of engineering excellence," said van Dorst. "By combining our skilled talent and superior technology with a deep commitment to customer value, we deliver solutions that truly set Key apart in the marketplace. Our vision includes increasing our local presence in high-growth markets worldwide to offer more regional language support, same time zone availability and responsive in-person service. I look forward to working with our committed teams to expand upon their success and deliver even more value to our customers across EMEA and Asia."
About Key Technology, Inc.
Key Technology is a global leader in the design and manufacture of automation systems including optical sorters, conveyors and other processing equipment. Applying processing knowledge and application expertise, Key helps customers in the food processing and other industries improve quality, increase yield and reduce cost. Key manufactures its products in Walla Walla, Washington, USA; Redmond, Oregon, USA; and in Beusichem, the Netherlands. Key offers customer demonstration and testing services at four locations including Walla Walla and Beusichem as well as Hasselt, Belgium and Sacramento, California, USA; and maintains a sales and service office in Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico. Key is a Duravant Company. For more information, visit www.key.net.
About Duravant
Headquartered in Downers Grove, IL, Duravant is a global automation solutions and engineered equipment company with manufacturing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Through their portfolio of operating companies, Duravant delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering and integration expertise, project management and operational excellence. With worldwide sales distribution and service networks, they provide immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all the markets they serve in the protein processing, food sorting and handling, packaging and material handling sectors. Duravant’s market-leading brands are synonymous with innovation, durability and reliability. For more information, visit www.duravant.com.
Lene Boes
Key Technology
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www.key.net
Buffy Hagerman
Key Technology
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www.key.net
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McBride Public Relations
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