Effective control of insects that damage stored products

Controlled Atmosphere (CA) is a safe, non-toxic treatment method for insects in stored agricultural products. By displacing oxygen from the batch using nitrogen generated from the air, insects are effectively controlled without leaving any residues. Traditionally, this is done in gas-tight chambers, but the technique is also suitable for silos and stored bulk batches.

Get in touch with us!
Control Union – Controlled atmosphere
    Clean and safe

    Pest-free without pesticides, choose controlled atmosphere

    Controlled Atmosphere (CA) is the ideal solution for storing, processing, or exporting high-quality agricultural products, such as rice, grains, nuts, coffee, cocoa, or dried fruit, for extended periods without the risk of insect infestation. 

    In situations where chemical agents are undesirable or prohibited—such as in organic certification, high food safety requirements, or from a practical standpoint for storage locations—CA offers a completely residue-free alternative. Our customised solutions or mobile units guarantee speed and a seamless connection to the existing logistics chain.

    Get in touch with us!

    Benefits of Controlled Atmosphere

    Controlled Atmosphere for Pest Management
    1.

    Complete pest eradication

    Ensures a mortality rate of 100% for insects in all life stages, from egg to adult pest. Furthermore, this method prevents resistance.

    2.

    Certified organic solution

    Approved for all major organic programmes such as EU Organic, USDA-NOP and JAS.

    3.

    Residue-free treatment

    Only uses nitrogen from ambient air, no toxic chemicals.

    4.

    Cost-effective

    Less risk of product loss and lower long-term costs compared to conventional methods.

    5.

    Flexible

    Can be used in fixed chambers or mobile container units, without supply chain disruption.

    Our experts leave nothing to chance

    A thorough approach, with guaranteed 100% results

    A standard treatment includes a detailed check of all critical points:

    • Customised installation of gas-tight chambers or container units, tailored to the capacity of the organisation. 
    • Establishment of a low-oxygen environment (less than 1.5%) using in-situ nitrogen generation. 
    • 24/7 cloud-based monitoring of temperature, oxygen and humidity to ensure the effectiveness of the treatment. 
    • Pest control for storage units, for comprehensive protection of the organisation’s facilities. 
    Controlled Atmosphere process

    From problem to solution in four clear steps

    On-site analysis

    We will visit you and analyse the problem: the type of pest, the size of the batch and the specific characteristics of your storage facility. Based on this information, you’ll receive a precise quotation.

    Mobile unit installation

    Our mobile treatment unit is installed on your premises. We ensure that the area to be treated (e.g. the silo) is made as gas tight as possible.

    Start and monitoring

    We install the wireless sensors and start the treatment. The machine reduces the oxygen level to below 1.5%. The entire process is monitored online in real-time for complete control.

    Delivery

    Once the treatment is complete, we will remove our equipment. Your product is 100% insect-free and can be immediately released for use or further transit.

    ‘

    Customised controlled atmosphere systems

    ‘

    Gas-tight chambers

    With a Controlled Atmosphere (CA) system from Control Union Pest Management, you can create an ideal, low-oxygen environment in completely gas-tight chambers. Thanks to complete control over the process, insects are effectively eliminated at every stage (egg, larva, pupa or adult). Our CA chambers are flexibly adaptable to both small and large volumes, tailored to your production capacity and logistical needs. Thanks to their ability to treat large quantities at once with minimal energy loss, these chambers are a convenient and efficient solution. They can be installed at virtually any location and are available in a range of capacities.

    controlled-atmosphere-2

    Bulk treatments

    Control Union Pest Management operates its own fleet of mobile engine rooms, which are used to produce nitrogen on-site at locations throughout Europe to carry out one-off treatments. Nitrogen is 100% inert and freely available from the ambient air. This allows operations to continue as usual. It is much more efficient to transport our machine to an infested batch than to transport a bulk load of hundreds or thousands of tonnes to a treatment location. The machine’s capacity allows us to create overpressure in all kinds of silos and bulk batches, meaning that a silo or batch does not have to be 100% gas-tight to carry out successful treatments.

    Bulk non-toxic treatments

    Gas-tight containers

    Gas-tight containers are ideal when quick installation is required or space is limited. They can be easily placed inside or outside your facility, offering great flexibility. Like our CA chambers, these containers are suitable for a wide range of volumes. Thanks to our extensive availability of 45-foot units, we can quickly scale up to any desired capacity.

    Control-Union_Heat-treatment_001_169-scaled

    Applicable within virtually all organic programmes worldwide

    Control Union systems are used worldwide to control pests as a curative or preventive method in organic and conventional production processes, without compromising product quality. Control Union’s Controlled Atmosphere Chambers reduce oxygen levels to below 1.5% by flushing with in-situ generated nitrogen, controlling insects at all life stages, including eggs, larvae, pupae, and adult stages. Our solutions can be applied within organic programmes, such as EU Organic, USDA NOP and JAS.

    EU CERT

    EU Organic

    EU – Regulation EEC. No. 834/2007 of Organic Production in the European Union

    Control Union – USDA

    USDA – NOP Organic

    Organic regulation for USA

    KOREA CERT

    Fipa Efapa Korea (유기식품)

    Regulation for Organic production in Korea

    JAS CERT

    Japanese organic (有機)

    Japanese Organic Regulation – JAS

    Control Union – Biosuisse

    Bio Suisse

    Organic standard for Bio Suisse organization in Switzerland

    NATURLAND

    Naturland

    German Association for Organic Agriculture

    Frequently asked questions about Controlled Atmosphere

    We do not use any chemicals for performing CA treatments. Our technique involves reducing the oxygen level under 1.5% in an enclosed environment with the contaminated load. The air we breathe consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of other gasses. Thanks to our technology we filter out the oxygen present in the air flushing pure nitrogen in the treatment room, thus reducing oxygen levels.

    Our treatments are 100% natural and certified by various organic programs such as the USDA-NOP, EU organic EU – Regulation EEC. No. 834/2007, Bio Suisse, Japanese JAS etc.

    Our technique is based under the principle of “no oxygen no live”, which means that all non-toxic treatments performed with Control Union Pest Management will eliminate insect adults, eggs and larvae. 100% guaranteed.

    Treatment times vary depending on the commodity, insect species, and product temperature. Since a commodity may be infested with more than one type of insect, the treatment parameters are set to eliminate the toughest insect within the product lot. We are happy to calculate an exact treatment parameter suitable for your load specific to your location.

    The controlled atmosphere solutions are customizable to the customers production capacity and facility space. As products will be treated for a few days, it is recommended to consider having more than one unit to ensure the flow of goods is maintained.

    Our systems include monitoring equipment that can show you the entire treatment parameters. If you require monitoring services, our team can support you by identifying any problems that may arise and notifying you promptly. Please see Monitoring Solutions for more information.

    The technique is suitable for both organic and conventional businesses that wish to protect dry bulk goods such as rice, grains, coffee, cocoa, and nuts, either preventively or after an infestation has been detected. Control Union Pest Management collaborates with producers, traders, and companies involved in storage and shipping that prioritise quality, personnel & cargo safety, and sustainability.

    This service is offered as a customised solution on-site or as a flexible machine unit for one-off treatments. This makes Control Union unique in the Netherlands and Belgium, with an active presence throughout the EU.

    ‘

    Maximum results with minimal operational disruption

    ‘

    Homepage – Peter de Weert homepage bij quote

    Would you like to request a quote or discuss your options first?

    We are happy to help. Please fill out the form below or call +31 (0)10 282 3371.

    Naam(Required)
    Consent