Better Work Environment and Cleaner Barns: Experiences with Washing Robots at Bonnesig Farm

At Bonnesig farm in West Jutland, Denmark, Jonna and Robert have streamlined their daily operations with two washing robots from Washpower. Although the technology requires an adjustment period, the benefits are clear: significant time savings and happier employees.

Robert is the fifth generation at Bonnesig, and together with his wife, Jonna, he runs a modern operation with 1,440 sows, 15,000 finishers, and approximately 60,000 30-kg weaners annually. With a production of this scale, cleaning is a time-consuming and physically demanding task, a task they now manage with the help of robot washing technology.

The couple has invested in two washing robots: one for the farrowing barn and a brand-new battery-powered model for the finisher barn. The couple actually bought their first robot six years ago, in February 2020 exact, a used model which has now been replaced with a new one in their finisher barns.

From Manual Washing to Washing Robots

The motivation for investing in robots was clear from the start. It was about saving time in a busy workday, but just as importantly, it was about improving the work environment for the farm’s employees.

“It is primarily to save time and increase efficiency, but it is certainly also about taking care of our people,” Jonna explains.

She finds that the employees greatly appreciate the relief. Even though the staff are strong and never complain about manual labor, the robots make a real difference.

“They find it incredibly annoying if the robot has stopped during the night because someone forgot to close a gate inside the barn.”

“And we can clearly feel the difference in terms of time. Once the robot has finished its run, we quickly save three hours of manual labor in a full barn. Especially in the farrowing barn, where we wash frequently, it means a lot to be relieved of the heavy part of the cleaning work,” she explains.

Fine-tuning Makes the Difference

Jonna honestly admits that she is not a “tech geek” herself and that the operating system was a bit tricky at first and can seem complicated at first glance.

“I don’t always have two hours to sit down with a manual, so it can be a bit difficult to see the logic sometimes,” Jonna says.

In this regard, the service from Washpower has proven to be crucial. After a visit from Washpower’s salesperson, Morten, the robot was fine-tuned with the correct angles and soaking programs.

“There was a significant difference after the adjustment. Before, there was still some dirt left, but now it actually flushes the piglet dens clean too. When it is set correctly with soaking, a pause, and then the main wash, the end result is really good. There isn’t much manual washing left to do afterward,” Jonna says.

Service is crucial

For Jonna, it is not just the machine itself that counts, but the peace of mind in knowing that help is available when the technology acts up.

“The fact that someone answers the phone, even at odd hours, has been the alpha and omega for me. When you are dealing with new technology, it is frustrating if you can’t get help. But here, they are good at answering immediately or calling back,” she says.

All in all, the challenges of switching to washing robots have been manageable, and the conclusion from Bonnesig is quite clear: the robots deliver a cleaner result than manual washing because they are consistent, and they free up vital resources on the farm.

“We can certainly recommend washing robots. The end result is significantly better, and we save hours,” Jonna concludes.

The numbers of Bonnesig

Owner: Robert and Jonna Lynge Andersen

Farm capacity: 1.440 sows, 15.000 finish pigs, 60.000 piglets (30 kg).

Robots: Two Washpower XB100 wash robots (Battery models).

Main benefits: Saves 3 hours for an entire wash, which is equal to 3 hours a week. Improves the work environment and is greatly appreciated by the employees, good for the morale.

Wash robot is in the middle of washing the farrowing pens at Bonnesig.

Photo from before cleaning with the wash robot.