How It Works: CMC’s Automated Poultry Harvester
The CMC Apollo Generation 2 is an automated poultry loading machine designed to collect broiler chickens inside poultry houses and transfer them into transport containers for shipment to processing plants. The system uses conveyor-based handling technology to reduce animal stress, improve biosecurity, and increase loading efficiency. With capacities ranging from 8,000 to 12,000 birds per hour, the machine replaces manual catching processes with a continuous automated workflow based on controlled conveying and integrated weighing systems.
System Overview
The Apollo Generation 2 operates as a self-propelled poultry harvesting platform equipped with conveyor belts, container loading systems, and automated weighing functions.
The operating principle is based on:
Collecting birds without mechanical grabbing systems
Transporting animals through low-speed conveyor belts
Depositing chickens directly into transport containers
Unlike older poultry collection systems based on vacuum or finger pickup mechanisms, the Apollo system relies on a continuous belt-conveying process designed to minimize stress and physical impact on the birds.
Collection Head and Bird Intake
The front section of the machine uses a folding harvesting head composed of multiple conveyor belt sections.
How the intake system works:
The machine moves slowly through the poultry house
Front conveyor wings are opened across the floor area
Birds naturally step onto the moving belts
Chickens are transferred toward the center of the machine
The low conveyor speed and wide belt design reduce abrupt movement and allow the birds to maintain balance during transport.
The system is specifically designed to avoid:
Manual grabbing
Sudden drops
High-speed transfer points
This operating logic is central to the machine’s animal welfare approach.
Conveyor Transport System
Once collected, the birds move through a sequence of transverse and central conveyor belts.
Functional sequence:
Side belts transfer birds toward the center channel
Central conveyors transport the animals toward the loading area
Belt inclinations and transfer gaps are minimized to ensure smooth movement
CMC also integrates a Soft Start and Stop system, which gradually accelerates or slows the belts to reduce instability during transport.
The entire process functions as a continuous flow system, minimizing interruptions during loading.
Container Loading and Weighing System
At the rear of the machine, the birds are deposited into transport drawers or cages mounted on a rotating carousel system.
How the loading process works:
The caging belt positions birds inside the containers
The operator adjusts belt height and position depending on container type
An integrated weighing system measures the load in real time
The machine automatically stops when the preset weight limit is reached
This allows the system to maintain consistent stocking density inside the transport containers while complying with animal handling regulations.
Once filled, the modules are removed by forklift and transferred to transport trucks outside the poultry house.
Mobility and Drive System
The Apollo Generation 2 uses a hydrostatic drive system mounted on rubber tracks.
Core components include:
Dual hydrostatic pumps
Hydraulic piston motors
Rubber tracks with internal steel reinforcement
Joystick-controlled movement
The tracked undercarriage improves maneuverability and traction inside poultry houses while reducing floor damage.
Biosecurity and Hygiene Architecture
A major engineering focus of the machine is biosecurity.
The design follows EHEDG (European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group) guidelines.
Key hygiene features:
Stainless steel or galvanized components in contact with birds
Smooth surfaces with minimal inaccessible areas
Easy wash-down design using water and disinfectant
Containers never contact the litter on the floor
The machine structure is optimized for rapid cleaning and disinfection between operating cycles.
Operational Capacity
The Apollo Generation 2 can load:
8,000 to 12,000 birds per hour
Approximately 16 to 26 tonnes per hour depending on bird weight and logistics conditions
Operational performance depends on factors such as:
Container type
Forklift cycle time
Distance to transport trucks
Bird density inside the poultry house
The machine typically requires only 3 to 4 operators, significantly reducing manual labor requirements.
Field Operation Logic
In practical operation, the workflow follows a continuous harvesting sequence:
The machine enters the poultry house
Conveyor wings collect birds from the floor
Birds move through central conveyor channels
The loading system deposits them into containers
Integrated weighing controls filling levels
Filled modules are removed and replaced continuously
This transforms poultry collection into a mechanized continuous-flow operation rather than a manual batch process.
Analytical Conclusion
The CMC Apollo Generation 2 applies industrial conveyor and automation principles to poultry handling operations, replacing labor-intensive collection methods with a controlled mechanical process.
Its technical differentiation is based on the integration of:
Low-stress conveyor handling
Automated container loading
Real-time weighing systems
Hygienic machine architecture
Hydrostatic tracked mobility
Together, these systems enable high-capacity poultry loading while prioritizing animal welfare, biosecurity, and operational efficiency inside modern poultry production facilities.
