Together with EVO Cleaner towards 100%

From expansion to automation. Eddy has significantly expanded the farm over the years. "In 1997, we had 350 sows, which increased to 500 by 2005 and 800 by 2008. Since 2014, we've been maintaining 1,000 sows and 1,250 fattening pigs. In 2019, when many livestock farmers were scaling back, Eddy chose to expand with meat pigs. With the necessary permits and a favorable location, the expansion went smoothly. The best part is that the sow farm is now all under one roof, making it simpler and more efficient to manage."

Working smartly with fixed routines. At Hesselink, efficiency is key. The focus is on delivering high-quality piglets. Every department - from piglet shed to farrowing house and fattening pigs - is well organised, so everyone gets through the work quickly and easily. This attention to detail extends to the hygiene sluice gate route, ensuring everything is hygienically managed and saving valuable time.

Hygiene as the foundation for success. For Eddy, hygiene is more than just cleaning. "You see immediate results when you take it seriously," he says. Five years ago, he had all the floors coated and implemented a color-coding system. "We clean and disinfect the central corridors every week and the piglet and fattening pig areas regularly. This helps keep disease risk as low as possible." His hygiene protocol is straightforward: moving from the fattening pigs to the piglet shed? First, a shower! Everything that’s been outside stays out.

Using technology as an extra hand. Eddy has been using an automated cleaning robot since 2008 to assist with cleaning. "Our first robot, the Clever Cleaner, did a good job. We’ve been using the EVO Cleaner for the past four years. It works faster and reduces a lot of manual labor." The EVO Cleaner automatically sprays and cleans the stalls and departments, allowing Eddy and his team to focus on other tasks. "It’s great that the robot does its job while you work elsewhere. It saves time and energy." Plus, a robot is always ready and never gets sick.

Achieving 100% clean with EVO Cleaner. The process starts with foaming the area, then the EVO Cleaner sprays it clean, achieving 80 to 90% cleanliness. The remaining cleaning is done manually to ensure everything is 100% clean. The stalls are then disinfected and left to dry. The EVO Cleaner is used twice a week during the day in the piglet department and twice a week in the farrowing department. Additionally, there is an automatic spraying robot used once a week for the fattening pigs.

However, technology comes with its own challenges. "The new EVO Cleaner is faster and more efficient, but it sometimes has glitches. That’s part of the deal," Eddy notes. "You need to be a bit technical and think logically to get through it. The installation by MS Schippers went smoothly, and I appreciate receiving updates and having MS Schippers remotely monitor the system."

The future with the best results. At 52 years old, Eddy is already considering the future of his business. "We’re technically proficient, and I want to maintain that. It’s hard to decide what to do with the business without a successor. For now, we keep everything up-to-date and aim for the best technical results!"