Explore the fabrication of pig pen panels, gates, and handling equipment designed for swine operations. Learn about corrosion protection, material selection, and real-world farm installations.
Introduction
Pig farming requires robust equipment that can withstand the aggressive environment of swine operations. Pigs are strong, curious animals that root, chew, and push against pen components. Their waste is highly corrosive, creating one of the most challenging environments for metal equipment. At Fulei Metal, we fabricate pig pen components for swine operations across Europe and Southeast Asia.
Pig Pen Design
Pig pen panels must contain animals ranging from piglets to 300 kg boars. Panel height ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 mm for sows and boars. Vertical bar spacing is typically 100 to 150 mm. Farrowing crates confine sows during farrowing with side rails, front and rear gates, and piglet heat lamp guards. Gestation stalls house individual sows during pregnancy with precisely dimensioned components. Loading and handling equipment includes races, crowd gates, loading chutes, and sorting gates.
Material Selection
Galvanized steel is the standard material with zinc coating providing essential corrosion resistance against manure, urine, and humidity. We use 1.5 to 3.0 mm thick steel tube and sheet. For components exposed to severe corrosion such as feeders and floor components, stainless steel (grade 304) provides superior longevity. Some components use epoxy-coated steel for enhanced chemical resistance.
Corrosion Challenges
Pig manure and urine are highly corrosive due to ammonia content. Metal components face continuous exposure, and even galvanized coatings can be attacked by prolonged exposure to fresh manure. Pig houses require regular cleaning with high-pressure washers and aggressive chemicals, so equipment must withstand these processes. Pig houses maintain 18 to 25 degrees Celsius with high humidity, creating ideal corrosion conditions.
Fabrication Process
Our TRUMPF fiber laser cuts panel components, feeder parts, and hardware. Steel tubes are cut to length and notched for frame assembly. CNC press brake machines form brackets, mounting plates, and reinforcement components. Panel assembly uses MIG welding for steel tube structures, with all welds ground smooth. Welded assemblies are hot-dip galvanized after fabrication, with stainless steel components possibly electropolished.
Case Study: Commercial Pig Pen Equipment for a US Producer
The pig pen equipment supplied to a major livestock producer in the US forms part of a supply relationship that started in 2016 and now runs at roughly 10,000 galvanized parts a year. Penning for pigs is specified around two things that are easy to get wrong: the panel has to be stiff enough that an animal leaning on it does not deform the bottom rail, and every surface the animal contacts has to be free of sharp edges and of pockets where feed and waste collect. This is why the bottom rail is a folded section rather than a flat bar, and why the panel is galvanized after welding rather than assembled from pre-coated parts – a cut end on a pre-coated tube is bare steel from the day it is made.
Conclusion
Pig pen fabrication requires understanding of swine behavior, corrosion challenges, and structural engineering. Fulei Metal’s experience in livestock equipment fabrication makes us a trusted partner for swine operation projects.
If you are sourcing this type of part, our DFM engineering review page covers the tolerances, batch sizes and inspection we work to, and custom sheet metal fabrication shows the wider range we produce in Ningbo, China. For background reading before you request a quote, see veterinary equipment fabrication livestock.