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«I-TEK Ukraine»: individual attention and confidence

Despite the challenging times, the pig farming branch doesn’t give up and continues fast-moving development. Producers, who have already worked in the market, are expanding and the new ones buy and reconstruct placements of former collective farms or build new complexes. In every case the equipment is required. On our market there several «powerful» companies that propose high quality product. One of them is I-TEK Ukraine, LLC. The enterprise also provides services of pig farms reconstruction. About French technologies in Ukrainian realities told the director of I-TEK Ukraine Viacheslav Mykhailov.

  • Viacheslav, get us acquainted with company “I-TEK”.

  • The leading wave of innovations in pig complexes fitting up was in 1970-s. At that very moment even Soviet Union had massively brought the workings of Italian company G&G. In Ukraine its equipment was fixed at pig complexes in Kalyta and Uglegorsk. At the beginning of 1990-s was the new impulse to innovations, switching in methods of production on a so-called new level. Founders of company I-TEK Pierre Lenard and Françoise Ruxelle were on its edge. At that time in France was forming the cooperative movement: the pork market establishing, working out connections between producers and processors. The history of I-TEK began in 1992. Now it has dominant positions in Europe, particularly in France — at about 65% of market. It works in pig breeding segment only, as the founders were confirmed, if one want achieve the success it is impossible to spread oneself. The parent company has 17 branches in EU countries, one in China and till 1998 it is presented in Ukraine.

    In 2009 the I-TEK founders sell the business to their colleagues Nicola Olivier and Tangy Pestel, who worked for company till its foundation. The so-called continuity of generations took place: the aims, areas of activities and company vision remained unchanged.

  • Do products sold by I-TEK in Ukrainian market differ from those, sold in Europe? Do you orient the feedback of local pig producers?

  • The equipment, offered in China, Ukraine and Europe is identical. Only the technical infrastructure of the final product — pigcomplex varies. Globally speaking, it is possible to start with ‘light’ batching and finish with complete ‘tuning’.

    Over the last years orders on unit construction of pigcomplexes has noticeably increased. Now the investors’ approach cardinally differs from one, predominating 2-3 years ago — the ‘primitivism’ in reconstruction and building of working facilities. Now customers more than ever ask: what technical solutions we have, what they guaranty, how they influence the final result. They decide the technology is worth money only when they understand all its advantages.

  • Do you do such economic calculations?

  • Yes, the separate company’s department counts the profitability and pay-back period of offered services and production. Customers often ask to send the commercial offer, for example for reconstruction of pigcomplex, as they are certain it has standard form. But till 1998, the company hasn’t done any identical complex. Project is created in tandem with investor: the most important thing is to reject needless spending but at the same time to create the pig complex that will work on profit for a long time and even in 20-30 years will be up to date from technology viewpoint. In effect that producer can get the maximum amount of kilos of meat per m2 of square. As particularly this factor determine the business performance.

  • Can the company I-TEK provide the calculations of emission level of noxious gases and materials airwards for its technologies?

  • The noxious emission content can be reasoned. Moreover it can be minimized: the primary focus is on manure disposal system and ventilation.

    Now there are many technological concepts but our producers are not always ready for such investments. It is leastways for the time being.

  • These technologies are obliged to your engineering department. Where does it scoop ideas from?

  • Yes. The company I-TEK has its own research bureau that is situated in France. It gathers 40 professionals, who work on innovations development. The bureau works in two directions: producing of new details and equipment and also designing pigcomplexes. After appearing the idea it takes a shape in metal or plastic. Initially there is only a subjective opinion that such innovation is essential and practical. To prove this, the development is send to the experimental farm. It is tested for a year and then person, who has been working with it, decides. If the development is useful it is commercialized, if not it is rejected.

  • How do Ukrainian pigmen accept the innovative products? Is it easy to persuade in advantages and practicability?

  • There are fewer and fewer those pigmen who share the opinion that good feed and pens are enough for successful production. Now there are results of pigcomplexes, reconstructed a few years ago. The part of producers continues the enlargement and some of them are trying to work out the investments up to now. This is the best argument if it is worth investing the technologies. Ukrainian producers are also starting to understand it.

  • Are you taking into account the genetic points while building/reconstructing complexes?

  • I can see no relation between genetics and equipment. It is impossible to say that for example Danish pigs fill comfortable only in Danish pens. In these conditions it should be noted that any high technology and first-class genetics cannot show its potential without good management. I would say “First of all the equipment efficiency depends upon the person, who operates it”.

  • Taking into account the difficult political and economic situation in the country, is the parent company I-TEK ready to keep on investing money in development of Ukrainian pig farming?

  • To be sure, the political and economic crisis has impacted on I-TEK. Other companies working in Ukraine also have same problems.

    Order amounts shorten but we don’t give up. We believe that situation will stabilize and our pig breeding will develop more dynamic!

  1. Company I-TEK has many patented innovations. What are they?
  2. What became an impulse of creation the representative office in Ukraine?
  3. What is in demand on Ukrainian market according to I-TEK representatives: equipment selling or services of building pig complexes?
  4. What does I-TEK advise in fight with atmospheric emissions of pollutants?
  5.  What are the latest company solutions?
  6. Is it important to train personnel of the pig farm to work with I-TEK equipment?
  7. What are the company plans for the nearest future?

    You can find answers for these and other questions in the full version of the interview in the magazine «Profitable Pig Production», № 6 (24) 2014.

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20.10.2016
 

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