Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH

What Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH does

Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH (AAT) is a Visbek, Germany-based private company founded in 2015 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the EW GROUP. It develops and sells specialized application technologies for commercial poultry breeding and husbandry, with a product portfolio spanning in-ovo sex determination (CHEGGY and CHEGGY Zoom, hyperspectral imaging systems that classify brown-layer embryo sex before hatch with >95% accuracy and up to 25,000 eggs per hour per module), chemical-free hatching-egg disinfection (e-ggytizer, low-energy electron-beam, up to 5 log10 germ reduction and 20,000 eggs per hour), automated poultry vaccination (Vaccybot, 3D-stereoscopy-guided robot at up to 2,800 birds per hour with up to four needles and six vaccines), and broiler-breeder weighing/sorting/vaccination integration (GRADY 3001 and GRADY 4000), supplemented by the STUNNY embryo-stunning unit. AAT also partners with Innovatec Hatchery Automation under a joint venture to combine automation and application technology.

The company sells capital equipment and related services through direct enterprise engagement with large commercial hatcheries and poultry-breeding groups, with deployment supported through its sister companies inside the EW GROUP—Lohmann Breeders, Hy-Line International, and Aviagen—whose hatchery networks (Hy-Line France, Lohmann France, Lohmann Deutschland, Hy-Line Italia, Verbeek in the Netherlands, plus US and Brazilian customers) function as both flagship reference accounts and primary distribution channels. Revenue is generated primarily from hardware/equipment sales of industrial-scale systems, with secondary technology licensing and ongoing servicing at customer sites; pricing is custom-quoted and not publicly disclosed. The company's go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales, multi-language corporate website, industry trade shows (notably EuroTier, where it has won Gold and Silver medals), and earned media in agricultural press.

AAT operates across Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the United States (entry 2024), and Brazil (entry 2025), with Australia announced for 2025 alongside SBA. Demand is structurally supported by binding regulations prohibiting the culling of male layer chicks in Germany (since 2022), France (since 2023), and Italy (by end of 2026), positioning AAT's CHEGGY technology as a compliance-grade solution. The company is led by Managing Director Jörg Hurlin and remains a privately held subsidiary of the diversified EW GROUP, with no external institutional investors disclosed in the source material.

Name

Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH

Legal name

Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH

Website

https://agri-at.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH is a German subsidiary of EW GROUP that develops and sells specialized automation and imaging systems—including hyperspectral in-ovo sex determination (CHEGGY), vaccination robotics (Vaccybot), weighing/sorting (GRADY), and electron-beam disinfection (e-ggytizer)—to commercial poultry hatcheries and breeding operations in Europe, the USA, Brazil, and Australia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Poultry Hatchery Automation Equipment

NAICS

Poultry Hatcheries (112340)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Reproductive & Breeding Devices & Supplies (AI Equipment, Pregnancy Detection Aids) (HLAMAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Vaccine Delivery Devices & Administration (Injectors, Oral Baits, In-Ovo) (HLAMAKAK)

Keywords

• In-ovo sex determination
• Hatchery automation systems
• Poultry vaccination robotics
• Egg disinfection equipment
• Broiler breeder sorting machines

Headquarters

HQ city

Visbek

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hardware/Equipment Sales: AAT generates revenue primarily from selling automated agricultural machinery systems including CHEGGY (in-ovo sex determination), Vaccybot (vaccination robot), GRADY (sorting machines), and e-ggytizer (disinfection systems). These are industrial-scale systems sold to commercial hatcheries and poultry operations worldwide.
2. Technology Licensing and Service Provision: Revenue is generated through providing access to proprietary technology systems, with the company maintaining and servicing equipment at customer sites. Partners like Hy-Line and Lohmann use AAT's technology to produce in-ovo sexed chicks.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH (AAT) develops and sells specialized automated application technologies for commercial poultry breeding and hatchery operations. Its product portfolio includes CHEGGY/CHEGGY Zoom for non-invasive in-ovo sex determination using hyperspectral imaging, Vaccybot automated vaccination robotics, GRADY weighing and sorting machines for broiler breeders, e-ggytizer chemical-free electron-beam egg disinfection, and STUNNY embryo stunning.

Product overview

Agri Advanced Technologies (AAT) is a portfolio of specialized application technologies for poultry breeding and husbandry, developed as a subsidiary of EW GROUP. The product lineup consists of two main categories: (1) In-ovo sex determination systems including CHEGGY and CHEGGY Zoom using hyperspectral imaging to determine embryo sex before hatching, complemented by STUNNY for embryo stunning; (2) Farm automation systems including GRADY 3001 and GRADY 4000 sorting machines for automated weighing, sorting and vaccination of broiler breeders, and Vaccybot as a standalone automated vaccination robot; (3) E-ggytizer for chemical-free hatching egg disinfection using electron radiation. These products work independently but can integrate with each other—for example, Vaccybot integrates with the GRADY weighing system for combined weighing, sorting and vaccination in one process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CHEGGY: In-ovo Geschlechtsbestimmung - Hyperspectral measurement technology for non-invasive sex determination in eggs, up to 25,000 eggs per hour
• CHEGGY ZOOM
• Vaccybot
• GRADY
• e-ggytizer

Products and services

• E-ggytizer

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 25,000 eggs per hour per module processing capacity for in-ovo sex determination
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Verbeek Hatchery (Zeewolde, Netherlands)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 16 December 2022Verbeek is the first Novogen hatchery to deploy CHEGGY technology. First CHEGGY machine in practice in Holland. First batches delivered December 2022. Verbeek operates a modern hatchery and rearing farms in Europe for female day-old chicks.
• Technical University of Dresden (TU Dresden)coreTechnology or Integration · 26 September 2022AAT is developing a model system for in-ovo sex determination before the 7th incubation day in cooperation with the Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden. The project uses optically-spectroscopic methods. The Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture is funding this research project. First laboratory tests have shown very promising results.
• SchaffelaarbosminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2021Partnership for sustainable use of male embryos as high-quality protein source. Schaffelaarbos processes the male embryos separated by CHEGGY technology for use as protein, creating a complete sustainability solution.
• Hy-Line FranceflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Hy-Line France has been a partner since 2019. Together with Lohmann France, they have deployed CHEGGY technology and produced over 1 million in-ovo sexed chicks. Capacity expanded to 30-40 million chicks per year.
• Lohmann FranceflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Lohmann France has been a partner since 2019. Together with Hy-Line France, they have deployed CHEGGY technology. Capacity expanded to 30-40 million chicks per year.
• Hy-Line ItaliaflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Hy-Line Italia deployed CHEGGY and STUNNY technology starting with demo unit in early 2021. Fully automated system ready since October 2021. Supports Italian market transition to eliminate chick culling by end of 2026.
• Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture (Niedersächsisches Landwirtschaftsministerium)minorOthers · 9 December 2020The Ministry is funding the research project 'Optically-spectroscopic in-ovo sex determination of chicken eggs for practical use in hatcheries' in cooperation with TU Dresden and AAT.
• EW GROUPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015EW GROUP is the parent company of AAT. AAT is a subsidiary/technology company of the EW GROUP headquartered in Visbek, Germany. EW GROUP includes major poultry breeding companies including Lohmann Breeders, Aviagen, and Hy-Line International. This relationship provides AAT with deep integration into the global poultry breeding industry and access to major hatchery operations for technology deployment.
• Innovatec Hatchery AutomationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovatec is a partner providing decades of experience in hatchery automation. A joint venture was formed between Innovatec Hatchery Automation and AAT. This partnership combines Innovatec's automation expertise with AAT's application technologies.
• Lohmann BreedersflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLohmann Breeders is a sister company within EW GROUP and is a world leader in layer hen breeding. 'For every housing system the right chicken - for every market the right egg.' AAT works closely with Lohmann for deployment of CHEGGY technology in Lohmann Deutschland, Lohmann France, and other operations.
• AviagenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAviagen is a sister company within EW GROUP and a global leader in broiler genetics. 'Stands for technological excellence in research, robustness and animal health.' AAT collaborates with Aviagen on technology deployment and breeding operations.
• Hy-Line InternationalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerHy-Line is a sister company within EW GROUP and one of the world's leading layer hen breeding companies. Known for excellent feed efficiency, high environmental robustness, and best egg quality. AAT has deployed CHEGGY technology at Hy-Line Italia and Hy-Line France.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Innovatec Hatchery Automation: Innovatec is a direct hatchery automation peer and AAT's JV partner; both companies design integrated equipment for hatcheries (sexing, vaccination, sorting, climate control). They overlap in product categories and compete for the same integrators and integrators-of-hatchery lines across Europe.
• Orbem: Orbem (Munich) develops AI-powered, MRI-based in-ovo sex determination for the poultry industry, competing head-to-head with AAT's CHEGGY hyperspectral platform for the same hatchery customers facing chick-culling bans. Both target layer hatcheries in Europe and beyond, addressing the same regulatory-driven capex cycle.
• Seleggt: Seleggt (Germany) uses a hormone-based endocrinology approach to in-ovo sex determination, deployed through partner retailers (e.g., Rewe) and competing directly with CHEGGY for layer-hatchery installations seeking regulatory compliance. Both target the same European chick-culling ban compliance budgets.
• Jamesway Incubator Company: Jamesway (Canada) is a leading global supplier of single-stage hatchery incubators and hatchery automation. While focused on incubation rather than in-ovo sexing, Jamesway addresses the same hatchery capital procurement decisions that include AAT's product suite.
• Pas Reform: Pas Reform (Netherlands) supplies integrated hatchery equipment—incubators, climate control, and automation—serving the same commercial hatchery customers as AAT. While Pas Reform does not currently offer in-ovo sexing, it competes as a hatchery technology incumbent and as a potential integrator partner for AAT or its rivals.
• Emka Incubators: Emka Incubators (Netherlands/France) manufactures commercial hatchery incubators and equipment, serving similar large-scale poultry integrator customers and competing for the capex budget that AAT's GRADY/Vaccybot products also target.
• HatchTech Incubation Technology: HatchTech (Netherlands; now part of the same group as Pas Reform) specializes in chick incubation and post-hatch handling technology, addressing overlap with AAT's Vaccybot and e-ggytizer value proposition for commercial hatcheries globally.

Emerging players

• Plant AG: Plant AG (Switzerland) develops molecular/biopsy-based in-ovo sexing as an alternative to AAT's hyperspectral approach; while not yet at full commercial scale like CHEGGY, it represents a competing technology pathway that could pressure AAT's market position in mid-tier hatcheries.

Broad incumbents

• Vencomatic Group: Vencomatic Group (Netherlands) provides poultry housing, egg handling, and increasingly hatchery-related automation. It competes for capital budgets at integrated poultry operations that also evaluate AAT's hatchery technology portfolio.
• Big Dutchman: Big Dutchman (Germany) is a global incumbent in poultry production systems—housing, feeding, climate, and egg handling. Its broad portfolio overlaps with the downstream customer base AAT serves through poultry integrators and could expand into hatchery automation with adjacent offerings.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/agri-advanced-technologies-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Agri Advanced Technologies GmbH