The hatchery modernisation and extension programme, which also includes hatchery automation for candling and transfer, chick counting and boxing, full HVAC (climate control) with energy-saving heat recovery system and washing machines, will bring total production to more than 34 million day-old chicks each year.

The Company, founded in 2008 to ensure the continuous production of quality day-old-chicks for Hercsihús’ integrated operations, is expanding capacity from 11 million day-old chicks each year, in response to an expanding share of the domestic market and new opportunities for growth.

Based close to Hercsihús Ltd’s headquarters in Hernád, the new Herbro hatchery is an investment for the combined integration, which currently processes 14 million chickens annually through a network of owned- and contracted farms throughout Hungary.

Sister-company Bro-Ker-Bét Ltd’s yearly production is 18 million Ross, Cobb and Sasso breed hatching eggs, with parent stock farms located close to the hatchery, near Újhartyán. Associated production in collaboration with a German company brings annual production up to more than 20 million broilers a year, with additional hatchery operations.

Pál Kiszel, owner of Herbro Ltd. and his son Gábor, production director, say the decision to work with Pas Reform was made after extensive work to identify a suitable hatchery supplier.

They said: "Against the backdrop of increasing demand – and with our current incubation equipment requiring more and more servicing - we felt it was a logical and timely investment to refurnish the hatchery and introduce an increased level of automation.

"Our research into the available options concluded that Pas Reform is the most modern, most reliable hatchery equipment supplier in the world – and with the advanced information, data gathering and management capabilities of SmartPro, the best partner for us, as we prepare for the future development of our business.”

The Herbro expansion project is due for completion by the end of the year.