Two Dutch managers in Germany

Two young Dutch managers in Germany

‘Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans’ is a famous quote. This certainly applies to two young Dutch professionals in the poultry world. Tom Groot Koerkamp (27) and Siemen de Jong (26) run the Optibrut hatchery just across the border in Germany, in Nordhorn.

‘Roughly 40% for Germany and 60% for the Netherlands.’

TTom Groot Koerkamp explains: ‘We fi nished our bachelor’s degree in 2017. I studied Business Administration in Zwolle and Siemen studied Food Technology in Den Bosch. We were both looking for a Den Bosch. We were both looking for a temporary job before starting our master’s temporary job before starting our master’s degree. The Optibrut hatchery was being degree. The Optibrut hatchery was being constructed at that time and this provided constructed at that time and this provided us with a nice job opportunity.’ So, at the us with a nice job opportunity.’ So, at the age of 23, they started working in the age of 23, they started working in the construction but stayed on as hatchery construction but stayed on as hatchery managers. Optibrut started off hatching managers. Optibrut started off hatching 800,000 broiler chicks per week and 800,000 broiler chicks per week and are now at a level of 1.2 million. Tom: are now at a level of 1.2 million. Tom:

Planning is key

The tasks between the two are clearly divided. Tom is responsible for planning and personnel and Siemen for the hatchery processes. Tom plans the operations in a way that ensures optimal results for their customers and Siemen gives substance to this planning. ‘My challenge is to get this spot on and produce high quality chicks’, says Siemen. ‘That is his famous fi ngerspitzengefühl’, Tom adds. Siemen about their close cooperation: ‘I’ve known Tom since secondary school, so we are very much attuned to each other.’

Isn’t it strange that someone with a background in food technology is managing a hatchery? ‘No, it all has to do with process technology. The basics are very similar.’ Nowadays, hatchery processes are highly automated. ‘The days that a hatchery manager would change the settings according to the weather outside are long gone. I have a dashboard with all the data and video feeds, but still I often walk through the hatchery to keep a real feel for the process’, Siemen explains.

We are very much attuned to each other

Complete system

Siemen: ‘Often you see that a hatchery expands or modernises and they fi t a setter or other components on the existing machinery. As a result, they end up with systems that are not 100% compatible with each other. We had the luxury of setting up everything with just two suppliers: HatchTech for anything related to incubation and Innovatec for all the processes around it: egg transport, egg transfer, live embryo detection, chick processing, etc.’

Multicultural

‘We are a multicultural company. Within Optibrut, we have many diff erent nationalities: German, Syrian, Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian, Moldovan, and so on.’ The language of communication is German. ‘We didn’t master this very well at fi rst, but you learn quickly by doing it’, Siemen explains. ‘The Germans truly appreciate it when you try to communicate in German. Even if it is not perfect.’

Good click from the start

We use Innovatec’s CleanChick system. The clear eggs are detected with light and the live embryos by the heartbeat system. The eggs with live embryos are taken out and put in the hatcher trays that are subsequently fi lled up to get exactly the same number of eggs in each tray. ‘In the beginning, we experienced some challenges with this, but now it works perfectly and we transfer 50,000 to 60,000 eggs per hour with this system’, Siemen says. ‘And if there is a problem: one phone call and they are here in no time to solve it. The Innovatec project manager we worked with is about our age, so we had a good click from the start.’

Siemen de Jong (left) and Tom Groot Koerkamp (right).

Bolidt Synthetic Products & Systems

No one knows better than Bolidt that hygiene is a matter of life or death within the poultry industry. Also, or perhaps especially, when it comes to fl oor systems. Therefore, Bolidt meets, with innovative systems, materials and solutions for industrial fl oors, the requirements of businesses, suppliers, consultants and technicians in the poultry industry.

Nijverheidsweg 37 3341 LG Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht The Netherlands +31 (0)786 84 54 44 export@bolidt.nl www.bolidt.com

Heering

Heering is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of transport systems for day-old chicks. Ever since 1865 the company has been a true pioneer in the creation and installation of transport climate solutions. Driven by quality improvement, Heering works closely with leading hatcheries on biological and technical research. Heering’s perfect understanding of all aspects of poultry production off ers its clients peace of mind for all their transports.

Spinfondsweg 4 8171 NV Vaassen The Netherlands +31 (0)578 57 95 79 info@heeringholland.com www.heeringholland.com

Haanstra

With more than seventy years’ experience of hatching eggs and day-old chicks, Haanstra BV in Zuidwolde is a specialist and reliable partner for poultry farmers, hatcheries and exporters. It is our ambition to occupy an independent position in the industry. We make a connection between supply and demand, providing a service in the process of hatching eggs, always acting in the best interests of our customers.

Nijverheidsweg 15 7921 JH, Zuidwolde The Netherlands +31 (0)528 37 29 29 info@haanstrabv.nl www.haanstrabv.nl

Hendrix Genetics

Hendrix Genetics is a multi-species animal breeding and genetics company. The company has genetic improvement programs for layers, turkeys, swine, traditional poultry, salmon, trout and shrimp.

Spoorstraat 69 5831 CK Boxmeer The Netherlands +31 (0)485 80 19 11 info@hendrix-genetics.com www.hendrix-genetics.com

HatchTech Incubation Technology

HatchTech is a leading food technology company, which enables poultry companies worldwide to maximise the genetic potential of their birds. Drawing on our unrivalled expertise in early-stage chicks, we create research-based products for incubation, chick transportation and brooding, and deliver and service our customers’ projects worldwide. Headquartered in the Netherlands, and with offi ces in China and Ukraine, HatchTech supports customers in over 40 countries.

Plesmanstraat 33 3905 KZ Veenendaal The Netherlands +31 (0)318 51 25 11 info@hatchtech.com www.hatchtech.com

Innovatec Hatchery Automation

Founded in 1991 Innovatec is a leading company specialised in innovative hatchery automation. Driven by innovation and committed to quality and service Innovatec supplies product lines that help hatcheries realise their full potential in order to deliver high quality and vital day-old-chicks.

1e Industrieweg 2a 4147 CR Asperen The Netherlands +31 (0)345 64 29 95 innovatec@innovatec.com www.innovatec.com

Pluriton

Pluriton is specialised in the export of hatching eggs and day-old chicks of laying and broiler breeds. The shipments that leave Pluriton’s branches in the Netherlands, Belgium, or its partners in other European countries, follow the most effi cient mode of transport. Thereby customers worldwide receive their day-old chicks in the optimal condition. Timely, fl exible and qualitative delivery are core values for Pluriton.

Postweg 146 6741 MN Lunteren The Netherlands +31 (0)318 48 47 48 sales@pluriton.com www.pluriton.com

Royal Pas Reform

Royal Pas Reform is the world’s only single-source supplier of smart, integrated and sustainable hatchery solutions. The company is one of the largest producers of incubators in the world and operates in over 100 countries. Pas Reform celebrated its centenary in 2019 and received the designation ‘Royal’. Since its foundation, Royal Pas Reform has been at the forefront of developing smart, integrated and sustainable hatchery solutions.

Bovendorpsstraat 11 7038 CH Zeddam The Netherlands +31 (0)314 65 91 11 info@pasreform.com www.pasreform.com

Ter Heerdt Kuikens en Hennen

Ter Heerdt Hatchery produces rearing hens and day-old chicks. In 1930, Grandfather Ter Heerdt laid the foundation for this successful family business with his small-scale farm. The generations to follow concentrated their know-how and skills on breeding and rearing hens. Since then Ter Heerdt has developed into one of the leading players in the sector, with a market share of 40% in the Netherlands alone. Today the company produces 14 million chicks per year.

Babberichseweg 89 6909 AN Babberich The Netherlands +31 (0)316 24 72 91 info@terheerdt.com www.terheerdt.com

Verbeek’s Hatchery and Rearing

Verbeek’s Hatchery and Rearing has more than 50 years of experience in breeding and rearing of laying hens. This successful Dutch company produces hatching eggs, day old chicks and young hens for poultry farmers in and outside Europe. Verbeek is committed to achieve top quality, starting with the selection of the right breeds. Customer requirements have a central position in Verbeek’s operating business.

Kauwenhoven 3 6741 PW Lunteren The Netherlands +31 (0)318 57 82 50 info@verbeek.nl www.verbeek.com

Walinga Inc.

Walinga Inc. manufactures a complete line of bulk feed handling equipment such as on-sight pneumatic transfer units for grain and feed, as well as bulk feed transportation tank units, overthe-road semi trailers and straight trucks. Walinga does not believe in standardisation, all equipment is custom-made for clients and constructed in state of the art facilities. Today the 60-year-old family-owned company has 5 productions sites with 280 employees.

Betje Wolff straat 6 9721 RR Groningen The Netherlands +1 519 835 8520 pamb@walinga.com walinga.com