Installation of new flooring at Torsius: carefully planned, flexibly implemented

The Torsius hatchery in Putten hatches chicks for Cobb, a global producer of parent and grandparent stock. Each week, Torsius is supplied with 400,000 fertilised eggs for their 22-day hatching process. Recently, the flooring at Torsius was completely renewed. Ensuring that the hatching process could continue uninterrupted required a high degree of flexibility. In close collaboration with Bolidt the company was able to maintain operations at optimum capacity.

The renewal included replacing the flooring in the pre-hatching areas and in the incubator rooms. Torsius selected flooring from Bolidt because in has proved itself in a large number of applications in the poultry industry. Bolidt has built a worldwide reputation in the sector as a reliable supplier of synthetic flooring with a seamless surface that meets the highest hygiene requirements.

One of the requirements Torsius needed to be met during the replacement of the flooring was that the hatching process would not be interrupted. Ensuring this required a good deal of resourcefulness and even more flexibility. Torsius works on a tightly planned schedule as a constant supply of eggs has to be entered into the hatching process. Bolidt and Torsius collaborated closely to implement the project successfully. Together they put together a plan that Bolidt could use to set to work. While Bolidt’s application specialists installed the Bolidtop^® 700 flooring system in the areas with the pre-hatching machines, Torsius was able to continue loading new eggs and thus keep operating at optimum capacity.

Flexibility

An additional challenge was that the space containing the incubators also needed new flooring. Bolidt offered a flexible solution here too: the Bolidtop^® 550 system. The requirements regarding shock and impact resistance of the flooring in this space are not as high as for the surfaces that are subjected to trolley traffic every day. The Bolidtop^® 550 is ideally suited, because the flooring system meets all the requirements and its short installation time allowed any disruption to Torsius to be kept a minimum. Another plus is that the Bolidtop^® 550 finish connects seamlessly to the Bolidtop^® 700 system and there are no level differences.

The renovation has provided Torsius with high-quality, durable and hygienic new flooring. Hygiene is of the utmost importance during the hatching process. The risk of chicks carrying bacteria when they leave the hatchery has to be reduced to a minimum. The Bolidtop^® 700 and Bolidtop^® 550 flooring systems meet the strictest requirements of the poultry industry. Due to their pore-free surface it is impossible for bacteria to lodge in the floor.

The flooring material is chemical resistant and can therefore be properly cleaned and disinfected. This helps to ensure that a high level of hygiene is maintained. An important advantage of the flooring is also that it is smooth and even and thus prevents vibrations and shocks; these would have a harmful effect on the fertilised eggs. At the same time, the Bolidt floors provide a safe working environment for Torsius’ employees. As their surface maintains its slip resistant qualities even when wet, there is no risk of slipping.