Pondex Spain Adopts WingScan for Automated Chick Sexing
The new partnership with Pondex S.A.U. points to a shift towards artificial intelligence-powered feather sexing technology in European hatcheries
Raleigh, North Carolina, USA | June 9, 2025 — TARGAN, a leading animal AgTech company based in the U.S., has announced a strategic partnership with Pondex S.A.U., a subsidiary of Spain’s Vall Companys Group, to implement the WingScan system at its hatchery in Juneda, Spain. This marks the latest move in the growing adoption of intelligent feather-sexing automation across Europe.
The installation will allow Pondex to sex up to 1.250.000 chicks per week, powered by TARGAN’s advanced AI imaging technology. WingScan is a fully automated, modular, and compact system designed to scale with the operational needs of any hatchery. Capable of processing up to 160,000 chicks per hour with over 97% accuracy, it supports high-throughput operations while helping address the labor scarcity that continues to challenge the poultry industry globally.
“Innovation is at the heart of what we do, so choosing to implement TARGAN’s fully automated WingScan system was a natural next step for us,” said Jose Miguel Garcia Sanchez, Hatchery Director at Pondex. “We’re excited to integrate the most advanced feather-sexing technology available and expect to see meaningful improvements—from the hatchery through to the farms and meat plants. With the support of the Vall Companys Group and close collaboration with TARGAN, we’re confident this will positively impact our entire value chain.”
As automation continues to gain traction in hatcheries, WingScan is delivering value to both operations already performing manual sexing and those adopting it for the first time. For existing programs, it provides consistent, high-accuracy performance throughout the day while helping address the labor scarcity affecting poultry operations globally. For those introducing sexing, the system enables sex-specific rearing strategies that improve flock uniformity and support greater yield at the plant. In both cases, WingScan enhances operational reliability while offering a more controlled and welfare-conscious approach to chick handling.
“We’ve seen tremendous interest in automated feather sexing across Europe, and the growing adoption of WingScan reflects that momentum,” said Ramin Karimpour, TARGAN’s Founder and CEO. “As hatcheries face growing labor shortages and mounting pressure to improve consistency and welfare at scale, solutions like WingScan are becoming essential. With the system approaching one billion birds sexed worldwide, we’re proud to support partners like Pondex as they help lead this industry shift.”
“This partnership with Pondex is more than a system installation—it’s a signal of where the industry is headed,” added Vincent Fevrier, Vice President of Sales and Marketing – EUAFAM & Oceania at TARGAN. “By collaborating with one of Spain’s leading producers, we’re helping set a new benchmark for hatchery operations. Early adopters of WingScan are already seeing measurable gains in performance, and with additional systems and countries coming online soon, this partnership reflects the beginning of a broader transformation across Europe.”
Vall Companys Group operates across the broiler production supply chain, with more than 900 poultry farms, 10 meat plants and four incubation centers across Spain. The company is focused on the integration of advanced systems that guarantee animal welfare and are key to producing premium quality poultry.
About TARGAN
TARGAN is an innovative animal AgTech systems company focused on transforming animal protein production industries worldwide. Founded in 2015 and based in Raleigh, North Carolina, the company's mission is to provide affordable, individualized technologies that will improve speed, accuracy and animal welfare. For more information, visit TARGAN.com
TARGAN is a registered trademark of TARGAN in the United States and other countries.
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