Castra Machinebouw is spearheading innovation in the agricultural technology sector with its groundbreaking egg conveyor system, designed specifically to overcome the limitations of conventional poultry farm conveyors that have remained largely unchanged for over two decades. The company was founded in 2022 by engineer Heiny Van De Kamp, whose deep experience in poultry farming exposed critical inefficiencies in existing conveyor solutions—primarily their inability to keep pace with the significant upscaling of egg production on modern industrial farms. Where traditional systems struggled with the volume demands and frequently caused costly egg breakage, Castra Machinebouw’s new system aims to revolutionize how eggs are handled from the poultry house to the collection room.

The essence of Van De Kamp’s innovation lies in the redesign of the egg carrier mechanism. Unlike legacy models that use fixed plastic fingers applying pressure from above, Castra’s conveyor employs uniquely injection-moulded carriers that lift eggs gently from beneath. This fundamental change dramatically reduces the fragility issues that previously plagued fast-moving conveyor lines. The system's carrier depth is variable, allowing for smooth transfers over inclines and declines up to 35 degrees, enabling a throughput of approximately 45,000 eggs per hour. Additionally, the modular design supports configurability and the integration of intermediate drives to cover longer distances, all within a compact 0.5-metre conveying width. This careful engineering precision translates directly into reduced breakage rates and corresponding economic benefits, setting a new standard for the industry which has been resistant to rapid technological adoption.

Van De Kamp’s engineering journey was enhanced significantly through the adoption of Siemens’ Solid Edge software, supported by the Solid Edge for Startups program. Solid Edge’s capabilities, particularly in sheet metal design and synchronous technology, enabled the company to accelerate prototyping and iterate new designs swiftly with high precision. Van De Kamp credits Solid Edge for simplifying complex assembly processes and reducing time-consuming manual steps inherent in rival CAD systems. His longstanding familiarity with the platform, dating back to its legacy as Unigraphic Solutions, provided a robust foundation to innovate confidently and efficiently. Supporting Castra Machinebouw’s ambitions, partners like Enginia helped with both gaining access to Solid Edge and providing ongoing technical support, underpinning the company’s rapid development and growth potential.

The broader agricultural and industrial machinery sectors have also seen significant benefits from integrated CAD solutions like Solid Edge. For example, Mechtop AG in Switzerland has leveraged the software alongside Tecnomatix Plant Simulation to create digital twins that enable virtual testing and optimisation of conveyor systems. This digital approach resulted in a 63% reduction in design time and helped secure major contracts, demonstrating the competitive advantage of combining engineering precision with virtual validation methods. Similarly, companies such as Planet Dryers in the UK and Red Ant Agri Engineering in South Africa have enhanced design flexibility and accelerated product development by harnessing Solid Edge’s advanced sheet metal handling and 3D modelling tools. Such success stories underscore the software’s broad applicability and effectiveness in streamlining complex engineering workflows across diverse sectors, including food processing and agricultural machinery.

Looking ahead, Castra Machinebouw is poised for substantial growth. The company has established collaborations with sheet metal fabricators and injection moulding specialists to scale production efficiently. Full-scale field tests with leading players in the egg industry are imminent, and successful outcomes could prompt swift adoption of this innovative conveyor technology across Europe and beyond. The strategic use of Solid Edge is expected to remain a cornerstone of Castra’s ongoing engineering efforts, facilitating both immediate product refinement and long-term operational scaling. By addressing a previously overlooked yet financially critical bottleneck in egg handling, Castra Machinebouw not only enhances productivity but also promises to reshape industry standards for years to come.