Central core area

The Central Core consists of three areas. The ground floor is the working space for the poultry farmer. The first floor is home to a visitors’ area. This visitor facility covers an area of 150 m2. From here visitors can proceed through a tunnel, completely made of glass, at the same level as where the hens are housed in one of the day quarters. An amazing and unique experience. The second floor houses two heat exchangers, which are used to control the climate in the night quarters and to pre-dry and dry the manure the birds produce.
 

• Ground floor

Egg collection: The Vencobelt

An egg conveyor belt was designed to link several rows of nests to an egg packer. This egg-friendly collection system gently transfers the eggs from the egg belts in front of the nests along the Vencobelt to the egg packing station. The plastic carriers of the Vencobelt gently handle the eggs, and are designed to have a running slope up to 30 degrees. As the Vencobelt has only one drive chain, making a 90 degree curve within the space of one meter is possible. Click here for the Vencobelt product folder.

Egg packing machine
The eggs are collected and packed ready for transport in this area. The Vencobelt collects the eggs and conveys them to the packer. The PSPC 30 from Prinzen collect the eggs using direct drive transfer for smoother egg placement (to avoid damage) and places the eggs directly into the trays. The PSPC 30 features a streamlined design for greater ease of cleaning and an overall length reduction. The user friendly operating panel includes six separate egg counters, and a multi function status and operation display. All packers based on the PSPC series offer integrated alarms that warn if the machine is becoming too full with eggs. Click here for the egg packer product folder.

Poultry computers
The PCL-9200 poultry computer from Stienen BE is used to automatically control the entire Roundel. This computer controls many aspects including the climate in the house. Click here for the PCL-9200 product folder.

Manure units
The manure produced by the birds is dried using air from the house via a manure carrousel that runs though the manure pit. This manure pit is situated around the central core area. The manure can be transported away using an auger and a transport belt. Thanks to this method a dry matter percentage of the manure of 80 to 85% can be achieved all year round. Click here for a photo of the manure unit.


• 1st floor

Visitors’ area
The first floor of the Roundel offers space for a visitors’ area. Panels on the walls inform visitors about the farm, the chickens and the eggs. A glass plate in the floor gives a bird's eye view of how the eggs are automatically collected and packed. From this area, stairs lead visitors to the glass tunnel in the day quarters. The visitors’ area naturally complies with all (fire) safety regulations. Click here for a photo of the visitors’ area.

Meeting rooms
To offer poultry farmers the chance to boost their incomes, two meetings rooms are also part of the design of the first floor. These rooms can hold groups of up to maximum 75 people and offer an interesting environment to organise meetings, conferences or other events. In consultation these rooms can be equipped to suit the user's particular wishes or to suit a variety of other purposes. Click here for a photo of the meeting rooms.


• 2nd floor

Climate area
The climate area is on the second floor. This room houses the two heat exchangers that regulate the climate in the night quarters and pre-dry and dry the manure. The manure belt is aerated by Agro Clima Units from Agro Supply. Click here for the heat exchanger product folder.

Solar panels
The solar panels in the Roundel are attached to the roof of the night quarters. With its four roof segments the Roundel is already more than self sufficient in its energy supply. Click here for a photo of the solar panels.