About Big Dutchman
Big Dutchman is the recognized market leader in the world swine industry. Across five continents and in more than 100 countries our name stands for long-lasting quality, rapid service and unsurpassed know-how.
About
Big Dutchman has planned and carried out feeding systems and housing equipment for modern pig and poultry management already since 1938. We offer you practical, economical and environment-friendly solutions all geared to future needs.
Whether you’re looking for more productive ways to feed, raise piglets or house sows – or if you’re ready for better management tools to make your pork business more successful, Big Dutchman can provide you with state-of-the-art feeding and housing systems AND professional help to plan your pig operation. Complete engineering design, installation and diligent service – that is, what we have to offer.
Responsible for the United States, Canada and South America, our sales and service team at Big Dutchman Inc. in Holland, MI USA is determined and ready to help you plan and implement our modern technology. For further information on our network of dealerships, please also visit our main website at www.bigdutchmanusa.com
In the United States, please our sales managers for further information:
Hans Ulrich: (616) 283-0708
Richard Olsen: (402) 414-0124
We have been in the business for quite some time…
1938 Richard and Jack DeWitt, invent the first sophisticated machine for automatic poultry feeding in Holland, Michigan. They call it “Big Dutchman” – reflecting pride in their Dutch ancestry and found the “Automatic Poultry Feeder” company.
1958 A subsidiary company is established in the Netherlands. In Calveslage, Germany, 26-year-old Josef Meerpohl (today’s owner of Big Dutchman enterprise) is engaged as sales representative for Germany.
1985 Josef Meerpohl acquires the entire establishment and trademark through Management-Buy-Out and calls the new German company “Big Dutchman”.
The company grows: from a one-man representative … to small agency …. to subsidiary company …. to finally become the headquarters of a business that was, and is, operating world-wide and leads the market in the area of modern-day pig and poultry farming.
1992 Founding of the ‘Big Dutchman AG’ holding company as head of head of the successful multi business enterprise. While Josef Meerpohl is chairman of the supervisory board, his eldest son, Bernd becomes chairman of the board of management
Big Dutchman Asia is founded with the sales and service headquarters in Kuala Lumpur/ Malaysia.
1998 Big Dutchman celebrates its 60th anniversay (40 years in Germany) and Josef Meerpohl receives a silver DLG medal award from the German Agricultural Society (DLG) for his merits to international cooperation.
1999 Big Dutchman AG takes over the majority of Big Dutchman Inc. in Michigan, USA. The number of employees working within the Big Dutchman group now totals 800.
2000 Big Dutchman is reorganized into independent business units: Big Dutchman Pig Equipment GmbH (Pig) and Big Dutchman International GmbH (Poultry)
2001 The acquisition of the company Avimec completes the foundation of Big Dutchman Brazil Ltda. A fine-meshed network of 40 sales agencies take care of the Latin American market.
2006 Founding of BD Agro Renewables GmbH & Co.KG. This new business unit of Big Dutchman provids all services connected to the planning, turnkey construction and subsequent supervision of biogas systems.
2008 BD Fish3 – a new business unit of the Big Dutchman group introduces the high-rise-system ‘BigPool’ – a new era in modern indoor fish farming.
Big Dutchman celebrates its 70th birthday with its ‘big family’ of over 600 employees in the Calveslage headquarters and 1500 employees worldwide.
Big Dutchman headquarters in Vechta, Germany....today