May 4, 2012

Dutch hatchery technology company Pas Reform has entered an agreement with Microban, allowing it sole use of Microban antibacterial technology in the hatchery sector worldwide.

Pas Reform has incorporated Microban into the polymer used to manufacture setter trays, hatcher baskets and other hygiene-critical hatchery consumables.

"Pas Reform's use of Microban technology represents an important development in minimising contamination by bacteria and pathogens in hatcheries", explains Gerd de Lange, senior poultry specialist of Pas Reform.

"The constant flow of eggs and chicks in hatcheries can, without proper hygiene practices, increase the potential for cross contamination and bacteria transfer during transportation. Improving the hygiene throughout this process is an absolute priority" explains Mr de Lange.

Optimising the hatchery's hygiene status is fundamental to good incubation. Bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes, so that within just seven hours, every bacterium can multiply into more than a million organisms. While disinfection is effective in the short term, it does not prevent the regrowth of micro-organisms once the surface dries and the disinfectant has evaporated.

By incorporating Microban technology into hatchery consumables such as setter trays and hatcher baskets, Pas Reform has created a unique and highly effective means of combating cross-contamination in modern hatcheries. Contact with the Microban treated polymer fatally disrupts the biological function of bacteria, to provide continuous protection between wash cycles.

"We strongly believe in the partnership we have developed with Microban and have extended our territory market relationship from EMEA to further include Central and South America and the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia and New Zealand," says Pas Reform's director of international sales and development, Bouke Hamminga

Following the success of Pas Reform's Microban-treated setter trays and hatcher baskets, the antibacterial technology will be incorporated in an extended range of consumables and into new applications in Pas Reform's hatchery planning, design and installation services portfolio, such as hatchery flooring and joint sealants.