Automated machines for poultry farming: in-ovo sex determination, vaccination robots, weighing and sorting systems and hatching egg disinfection.
Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH
Hogenbögen 1 · 49429 VisbekNew on Amplifa
From research into practice
Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH (AAT) was founded in 2015 and is a subsidiary of EW GROUP headquartered in Visbek, Lower Saxony. The company develops specialised application technologies for poultry breeding and keeping, translating scientific findings into industrially deployable, practical systems. The product portfolio includes the CHEGGY system for non-invasive in-ovo sex determination of brown layer hybrids based on hyperspectral measurement technology, the Vaccybot as a fully automated poultry vaccination robot, the GRADY sorting machines for automated weighing and sorting of broiler parent stock, and the e-ggytizer for chemical-free hatching egg disinfection using low-energy electron beam radiation. AAT accompanies the entire development process from idea through research, prototype and field testing to industrialisation and market maturity. The systems are used worldwide in hatcheries and poultry operations, including in Germany, France, the Netherlands, the USA, Brazil and Australia. Cooperations exist with sister companies of EW GROUP such as Lohmann Breeders, Aviagen and Hy-Line, as well as with universities and research institutes.
- Site
- Visbek
- Processes
- In-ovo sex determination (hyperspectral measurement technology), Chemical-free hatching egg disinfection with low-energy electron beam radiation, Fully automated vaccination of poultry (breast injection), Automated weighing and sorting of poultry by weight, In-ovo sex determination (CHEGGY), Hatching egg disinfection with electron beam radiation (e-ggytizer), Fully automated vaccination (Vaccybot), Weighing and sorting (GRADY)
- Materials
- Stainless steel, Aluminium, Polyamide, Polyethylene, Lead (clad with stainless steel), Stainless steel (welded frame), Lead clad with stainless steel, Low-energy electron beam radiation
- Certificates
- Certified Humane (CHEGGY use at SBA, Australia)
- Founded
- 2015
- Industries
- Poultry breeding, Poultry keeping, Hatcheries, Egg production, Broiler parent stock rearing
- 01
Idea & research
- 02
Prototype
- 03
Field testing
- 04
Industrialisation
- 05
Market maturity
- 06
Assembly
- 07
Sales
- 08
Training and service
Materials and processes
Stainless steel
Stainless steel for hygienically designed, easy-to-clean machine frames and components.
Aluminium
Lightweight, durable construction material for mobile, transportable systems.
Polyamide
Plastic for low-wear components in the GRADY 4000 sorting machine.
Polyethylene
Plastic for animal-friendly and hygienic components of the sorting machines.
Lead clad with stainless steel
Radiation shielding in the fully enclosed e-ggytizer system.
Low-energy electron beam radiation
Chemical-free germ reduction of hatching eggs by up to 5 log₁₀ levels, 120–200 kV.
Hyperspectral measurement technology
Non-invasive in-ovo sex determination based on the plumage colour of the embryos.
Sites
Visbek
DEHeadquarters, development and assembly
- Materials
- Stainless steel, aluminium, plastic
- CHEGGY / CHEGGY Zoom sex determination systems
- e-ggytizer disinfection system (120–200 kV)
- Vaccybot vaccination robot (2D delta robot)
- GRADY 3001 / GRADY 4000 sorting machines
Products and systems
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-ovo sex determination (hyperspectral measurement technology)Testing | – | – | – | 25,000 eggs/hour per module | Hatching eggs of brown layer hybrids |
| Chemical-free hatching egg disinfection with low-energy electron beam radiationSurface | – | – | – | 20,000 hatching eggs/hour | Hatching eggs |
| Fully automated vaccination of poultry (breast injection)Assembly | – | – | – | 2,800 animals/hour | Poultry (broiler parent stock) |
| Automated weighing and sorting of poultry by weightTesting | – | – | 300 g – 3,000 g | 3,700 animals/hour (GRADY 3001) | Poultry (broiler parent stock) |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-ovo sex determination system (hyperspectral measurement technology) | Agri Advanced Technologies CHEGGY / CHEGGY Zoom | – | – | – | – |
| Hatching egg disinfection system (electron beam radiation, 120–200 kV) | Agri Advanced Technologies e-ggytizer | – | Length 2,650 mm × width 1,050 mm × height 2,250 mm, 4,500 kg | – | – |
| Fully automated vaccination robot (2D delta robot arm, 4 axes) | Agri Advanced Technologies Vaccybot | – | Length 2,580 mm × width 780 mm × height 1,300 mm, 180 kg | – | – |
| Automatic sorting/weighing machine | Agri Advanced Technologies GRADY 3001 | – | Foldable, transport through doors > 85 cm | – | – |
| Automatic sorting/weighing machine (heavy-duty) | Agri Advanced Technologies GRADY 4000 | – | 3,230 × 3,230 × 1,380 mm, 400 kg, 4,400 animals/hour | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
The systems are designed for hygienic requirements and are easy to clean; the CHEGGY technology was certified by Humane Farm Animal Care (Certified Humane) at the SBA hatchery in Australia.
| Evidence | Visbek |
|---|---|
| Certified Humane (CHEGGY use at SBA, Australia) |
Development in milestones
- 2015
Foundation of Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH as a technology company of EW GROUP in Visbek.
- 2017
Introduction of the GRADY weighing and sorting machines for broiler parent stock.
- 2019
First field-ready in-ovo sex determination system in Germany under the product name CHEGGY.
- 2021
Successful market launch of the CHEGGY technology in industrial use in Europe.
- 2024
Award for the Vaccybot (Gold) and the e-ggytizer (Silver) at EuroTier; two Cheggy systems in Texas and Iowa (USA).
- 2025
Start-up of the first commercial in-ovo sex determination system in the USA; introduction of CHEGGY in Brazil (Raiar Orgânicos).
- 2026
Market launch of the Cheggy technology in Australia with SBA in Victoria.