Successful expansion of a pig farm

Successful expansion of a pig farm

Nando Ernst is a Dutch pig farmer with a total of 6,500 fattening pigs (2023). Since 2016, he has been using a biological air scrubber. Nando shares his experiences with the machine and Dorset Green Machines.

At Dorset Green Machines, we are proud to have played a crucial role in the successful expansion of Nando Ernst’s pig farming business. From a modest number of 500 pigs to an impressive 6,500 pigs, Nando faced the challenge of meeting strict permit requirements and emission standards.

We guided Nando through the phases of his expansion, providing innovative solutions and reliable service that ensured the success of his project. Our technological expertise and commitment to excellence helped optimize his business operations and ensure sustainable and responsible farming practices.

Nando significantly expanded his business from 500 to 6,500 pigs, facing the challenge of meeting the required permits and emission standards. To build two new barns, he had to comply with emission standards. The province and municipality required him to install an air scrubber. This expansion was divided into two phases, leading to the final 6,500 pigs.

For the first phase, Nando chose a chemical air scrubber due to its simplicity, compactness, and cost-efficiency. When he started the second phase in 2016, it was necessary to address odor, fine dust, and ammonia. This led to the choice of a biological air scrubber. In this phase, the last 2,100 extra pigs were added. The biological air scrubber significantly reduced emissions, keeping him within all standards.

Dorset Green Machines came out as the best from the quotes, and the fact that Nando already knew the salesperson made the choice easier. He was familiar with Dorset Green Machines from their presence at trade fairs. The support during the permit procedure was a huge plus. The salesperson took the lead, making the whole process smooth.

A construction team was assembled, and together with the salesperson, uncertainties were resolved and the plan was quickly executed. The installation went smoothly, and maintenance is minimal thanks to the efficient operation of the biological air scrubber. The success of the expansion is due to the low maintenance requirement, low power consumption of the biological air scrubber compared to the chemical variant, and the significant reduction of odor emissions for the environment. Dorset Green Machines has proven to be a reliable partner. The technician is always quick to finish, and everything is always neatly resolved. It depends a bit on which inspection. Once a year is the ‘quick’ inspection, and once a year is a full inspection. In short, everything runs smoothly thanks to Dorset Green Machines!