Expansion of cooperation with Optibrut

Expansion of cooperation with Optibrut

Optibrut GmbH, based in the German town of Nordhorn, and Innovatec, have been working closely together since the opening in 2017 of Europe’s most innovative hatchery. Since then, the automation of the entire process around their incubation has been taken care of by Innovatec. This includes, among others, egg reception and quality control, transfer and live embryo detection, chick processing and washing equipment.

To prepare the existing candling & transfer line of Optibrut for Innovatec’s In-Ovo vaccination machine, some modification of the line will be made. Backfilling the automatically removed non-hatchable eggs will be done before In-Ovo vaccination, this to ensure optimum efficiency of the line. Backfilling in the new setup will be performed through a newly developed application of a robotic arm,  the most precise and gentle method to refill setter trays to an exact desired quantity. After the eggs have been vaccinated, they will be transferred towards the hatcher baskets.

With these modifications and the implementation of the new “hatch detection” technology in the chick processing room, capacities and performance in both candling & transfer and chick processing room will be significantly increased.

"With confidence I’m looking forward a further intensification of our cooperation, which definitely will strengthen Optibrut's and Innovatec's market position”, according to Paul de Schouwer, CEO of Innovatec.