Free farrowing pens will become mandatory in Europe. Bas van den Heuvel of Van Osch explains why EuroTier matters, backed by more than 1500 delivered pens.
For Van Osch B.V., EuroTier this year is all about one subject: free farrowing pens. Bas van den Heuvel runs the company alongside Lieke van Osch as the third generation of the family business. He explains why the exhibition in Hanover is the right place for pig producers to see this shift firsthand, and why proven experience matters more than a polished promise. His message is simple: if you are planning to invest or expand, now is the time to take a look. Below, he explains why and what Van Osch will be showing at the event.
At EuroTier, you can see where pig farming is heading in a single day
For me, EuroTier is the leading event for pig producers. You can explore the latest innovations, visit suppliers and compare the new systems entering the market. It is also a great opportunity to catch up with people you know and make new connections.
You can meet and speak with so many people in one day.
That applies to us as a business, but just as much to pig producers themselves. At EuroTier, you can meet fellow producers and hear directly about their experiences. It is a truly international exhibition too. You get a clear view of what is happening in other parts of the world and the developments shaping the sector there. For all these reasons, I believe a trip to Hanover is well worth it.
Free farrowing pens are becoming mandatory, so now is the time to choose
This year, our full focus is on free farrowing pens. The reason is straightforward: free farrowing pens will become mandatory in Europe in the future. The change is likely to affect markets beyond Europe too, but the direction of travel is clearest here.
That has immediate implications for anyone making plans. Pig producers looking to invest or expand are already considering these new farrowing systems. They want confidence in their choice, and they want to compare the available options side by side. For us, this is the most important topic in the industry right now, and I am convinced it is just as important for pig producers.
That is exactly why an exhibition such as EuroTier is so valuable. You can see solutions from different manufacturers and ask them about their track record. If I were a pig producer, that is the question I would always ask.
We will be displaying two free farrowing systems. There are other options available, but these are the two systems visitors can see in person. A free farrowing pen is much easier to assess when you are standing in front of it than when you are looking at a brochure.
Three generations of pig housing expertise from Uden, with in house production
Van Osch is a pig housing equipment company based in Uden, in the Dutch province of North Brabant. The company was founded in 1939 by Bert van Osch and was later taken over by his son, Toon van Osch. Since 2003, the third generation, Lieke van Osch and I, have been running the business together.
We manufacture our products in Uden. Much of our production is automated, and we develop our own systems. This means our expertise stays in house, from the initial design through to the finished product.
We recently opened a new showroom where visitors can see the full range of systems we manufacture and supply. Anyone who cannot make it to EuroTier, or who would like more time to explore the options afterwards, is very welcome to visit.
Customers choose us for practical advice and dependable delivery
Customers around the world choose Van Osch. The feedback we receive is remarkably consistent: they value our advice, the quality of our products and our ability to deliver on time.
Our systems are proven in the field and straightforward to use. That is a deliberate choice. A pig producer needs equipment that is practical to work with every day, and that is what our advice is built around. We stand behind our recommendations because we know a pig housing system is a long term investment.
Reliability also means delivering when promised. A producer building or refurbishing a unit works to a schedule, and we need to fit into that schedule.
We deliver our materials on time, so our customers can rely on us.
Our pricing also reflects the quality we provide. Customers regularly tell us that this value for money is one of the reasons they continue to work with us.
Experience with free farrowing pens is proven in real barns
Many manufacturers are now presenting free farrowing pens. The difference comes down to the question I mentioned earlier: how much experience do they really have? Our answer is clear. Over recent years, we have delivered more than 1500 free farrowing pens in a range of configurations. They have been installed and are now in active use.
That is real world experience. We listen to feedback from the market and have already made small refinements in places to improve the product further. That is why I can confidently say our solutions work in practice.
We are ready to roll out and supply these systems on a large scale. When the requirement comes into force and many pig producers start investing at the same time, a supplier must be able to demonstrate that it can meet demand. Anyone who sees our housing systems in person, whether at the exhibition or in our showroom, will see a system that is already working in real barns.
What I want visitors to take home from Hanover: the Van Osch name
When visitors leave the exhibition in Hanover, above all I want them to remember Van Osch. I want them to have seen our housing systems and our free farrowing pens, and to come away feeling confident about the quality we deliver.
That confidence also comes from the projects we have completed. We will show these on screen at the exhibition, giving visitors a clear picture of how our systems look and perform in real barns.
But the most important thing is that they remember our name. A pig producer considering expansion after EuroTier should know exactly who to contact. If you have plans to invest, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Frequently asked questions, answered by Bas
Here are four questions pig producers often ask us, with brief answers.
Why should I start looking at free farrowing pens now?
Because free farrowing pens will become mandatory in Europe in the future, and similar changes are likely elsewhere as well. If you are planning to invest or expand, now is the time to explore the available systems.
How many systems will you show at EuroTier?
We will have two free farrowing systems on display at the exhibition. More options exist, but these are the two you can inspect in person.
Where is Van Osch based?
We are based in Uden, in North Brabant, the Netherlands. Bert van Osch founded the company in 1939, his son Toon later took over, and since 2003, Lieke van Osch and I have run the business as the third generation.
Can I view the systems outside the exhibition?
Yes. We recently opened a new showroom where you can see all the systems we manufacture and supply. We produce them ourselves in Uden, using largely automated production and our own product development.