HATO and Pinto Valouro: A Partnership That Elevates Performance, Animal Welfare, and Operational Reliability

The collaboration between HATO and Sociedade Agrícola da Quinta da Freiria, S.A. – part of the historic Grupo Valouro, one of Portugal’s largest and most influential agro‑industrial groups, continues to stand out as an exemplary success story in the poultry sector.

With origins dating back to 1875, when the Santos family began a modest poultry‑trading business, Valouro has grown into a vertically integrated powerhouse comprising around 39 companies and employing roughly 2,200 people. Their name itself, Valouro, traces back to Vale de Ouro (“Golden Valley”), the site of their first feed factory and a symbol of their enduring commitment to quality and innovation.

Today, this legacy is further strengthened through the adoption of HATO’s CORAX lighting system, which has enabled Valouro to elevate production performance, animal welfare, and operational reliability across their poultry houses. Supported by insights from Pedro Oliveira, Project Manager at Sociedade Agrícola da Quinta da Freiria, this case highlights how the right technology - combined with a strategic partnership - can transform an entire production environment.

The Context Behind the Project 

Contrary to the usual path, Pinto Valouro did not initially set out to search for a new lighting supplier. Instead, the recommendation came from their dealers,  VALE, who suggested adopting a professional lighting solution capable of addressing several persistent challenges.

According to Pedro Oliveira, the previous lighting system struggled with:

• Low reliability in harsh poultry-house environments, including exposure to misting, ammonia, and CO₂
• Difficult maintenance, requiring technical intervention even for simple lamp replacements
• The need for a dimmable, flicker-free, and robust lighting solution

These conditions made it clear that a more resilient and specialised system was needed.

The role of VALE as HATO’s dealer in Portugal

A key element in this success story has been VALE, HATO’s official dealer and technical partner in Portugal. As a specialised integrator, VALE played a central role in recommending the CORAX system to Valouro and in designing the complete technical project for the installation. Their recommendation of HATO’s lighting solution initiated the project and ensured that the implementation was smooth, efficient, and aligned with Pinto Valouro’s operational needs.

Why CORAX: 

When evaluating the CORAX system, two aspects immediately distinguished it from conventional lighting options:

• Exceptional light uniformity, ensuring equal activity levels across all birds
• Clear improvements in animal welfare, contributing to more consistent flock behaviour and production

For Valouro, these benefits aligned perfectly with their long-term goals of performance stability and sustainability.

A Smooth Implementation Process

The installation process was handled collaboratively between Sociedade Agrícola da Quinta da Freiria, S.A. – Pinto Valouro and VALE. Pedro highlights that the process was “easy and well-structured,” thanks to the complete technical project delivered by HATO and Vale including:

• Cable layout plans
• Luminaire spacing guidelines
• Full technical documentation

While there was no particular employee feedback to highlight, the transition was smooth and disruption-free.

Measurable Results: Higher Production, Lower Maintenance, Better Control  

Since adopting the CORAX system, Pinto Valouro observed notable improvements across several performance indicators.

Key measurable outcome:

In one of the upgraded poultry houses, the difference between the new buildings (with upgraded ventilation + HATO lighting) and the old ones reached +3.3 percentage points in peak egg-laying rate.

Pedro Oliveira reinforces that the upgrade had an amplified effect because Pinto Valouro simultaneously modernised several systems:

• Window-opening mechanisms
• Measurement sensors
• Ventilation systems
• Lighting (HATO CORAX)
• Cooling systems (in some buildings)

Operational benefits were equally significant:

• Increased production performance
• Reduced maintenance - any staff member can now replace a lamp, reducing external technical interventions
• Improved sanitary conditions - fewer visits from outside technicians reduces biosecurity risks

Pedro summarises the role of lighting in Pinto Valouro’s operations clearly:

“Lighting is one of the key factors in poultry houses. It must have the right intensity - not too much, not too little - and the best uniformity possible so that birds remain active and produce evenly.”

Measurable Impact: 

Since adopting the CORAX system, Pinto Valouro has observed:

• Increased production
  In one modernised poultry house, the difference between upgraded and older pavilions reached +3.3 percentage points in peak egg-laying rate.

• Reduced maintenance needs
  Any staff member can now replace a lamp without external technicians—
  reducing downtime and improving biosecurity.

• Better operational control
  Lighting, ventilation, sensors, and (in some cases) cooling were all upgraded simultaneously, creating a consistent, high-performance environment.

Pedro summarises the importance of lighting:

“Lighting is one of the key factors in poultry houses. It needs the right intensity and the best uniformity so birds remain active equally and can produce better.”

Partnership, Trust, and Future Expansion

The partnership strengthened when HATO proactively reached out to warranty-related questions. For Pedro Oliveira, this moment solidified the relationship:

“The partnership has been excellent. Since that moment, all issues were solved, and HATO’s support has been outstanding.”

Expansion plans

Valouro confirms that all poultry houses not yet modernised with new ventilation will gradually be converted to HATO lighting.

A Partnership That Sets a Higher Standard

The cooperation between HATO and Pinto Valouro proves that combining expert technology with strong technical collaboration leads to tangible, measurable improvements.

With plans for continued expansion, this partnership stands as a benchmark for innovation, reliability, and animal-centric production in the European poultry industry.