INNOVATEC | Ghekiere Hatchery Partnership

“Ghekiere Hatchery achieves healthier chicks, higher hatch rates and maximum biosecurity with Innovatec’s unique high-vacuum system”

Ghekiere Hatchery in Wevelgem is a name steeped in history. What began almost 100 years ago in the cellar of the Bell-X hotel has today grown into a modern hatchery on the outskirts of Wevelgem. Yet one thing has remained unchanged: its family character. Father Filip helps out with purchases where necessary and still regularly lends a hand at the hatchery. Mother manages the accounts, whilst the next generation, sisters Caro and Lore and brother Chiel, are further expanding the business. Sister Lore also plays an important role in the accounting, brother Chiel is responsible for the technical side of the business, whilst sister Caro focuses on the hatching process as hatchery manager and hatching supervisor. “Actually, we could go on for a while,” says Caro with a laugh, “because uncles, aunts, cousins and nieces all work here too.”

Caro herself has now been with the company for 12 years. She spent her first year as a lorry driver, due to a shortage of drivers. She then progressed to her current role as hatchery manager and hatchery supervisor, in which she is responsible for the hatching process on a daily basis.

Ghekiere’s partnership with Innovatec goes back many years. “For as long as I can remember, we’ve been working with Innovatec machines,” says Caro. “We started out with the chick counters, and I believe the separator was one of the first Innovatec machines to be installed here.”

In 2025, the hatchery once again chose Innovatec, replacing the existing CLEANchick dual technology for live embryo detection with a system now combined with the Exploder Removal System (ERS) featuring a high-vacuum system. It is precisely this latter feature that has proved to be a decisive step forward.

“The high-vacuum system really makes the difference,” explains Caro. “Eggs without a heartbeat and potential ‘bangers’ are completely sealed off and sucked away immediately. That means they no longer break open in the hatchery itself.” Whereas odour nuisance and contamination were previously unavoidable, the environment now remains noticeably cleaner and more pleasant to work in.

But according to Ghekiere, the biggest advantage lies in biosecurity. Because potentially contaminated eggs are immediately removed from the process, the risk of cross-contamination is significantly lower. “You can see that straight away in the quality of the chicks,” says Caro. “They hatch cleaner, have a much better start and are visibly more vigorous.”

The system also brings operational benefits. Work on the chick counters has become less intensive, as contamination and manual corrections have decreased significantly. At the same time, the hatchery saw a clear improvement in the hatch rate. “We used to have more losses between inspection and hatching. Since we’ve been working with the ERS high-vacuum system, that percentage is clearly higher.”

The implementation of the new systems went smoothly. “The installation by Innovatec’s service department was efficient and professional. That immediately inspired confidence.”

That confidence was actually already there. Choosing Innovatec was therefore a logical step for Ghekiere. “They are a partner we know and can rely on. And with this technology, we can see that they continue to innovate in areas that matter to us.”

Ghekiere also views the collaboration with Innovatec very positively in terms of service. When contact is made, they respond quickly and effectively. Whether it’s a query by email or urgent support, the service team responds promptly and actively contributes ideas. That direct and solution-oriented approach inspires confidence and ensures that the hatching process can continue to run without unnecessary interruptions.