Ivan Boradjiev, Infotech Group: “We have deep knowledge and big experience in the grain storage process and technologies. We will keep the direction we have always followed with the guiding goal to help our clients to keep the grain, to preserve its quality and increase their profit. Even 1 kilo of grain must not be lost. We dream of an absolutely error-free storage process and we believe we could offer it to the customers.”

From the harvest onward, the grain undergoes a series of operations during the course of which quantitative and qualitative losses can occur. Insufficient drying and poor storage conditions can bring about losses caused by the combined action of moulds, insects, rodents and other pests. Given the increasing food demand of an increasing population, reducing the postharvest loss is of high importance for global food security. There is a constantly growing company operating in that vital field: InfoTech-Group (ITG). Providing digital systems for temperature monitoring and automated fan control for grain storage, Sofia based InfoTech has more than 450 installations in Bulgaria and more than 700 abroad in the 60 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Speaking to Miller Magazine, Ivan Boradjiev, owner and founder of Infotech Group, underlines that a very big percentage of crop losses is due to incorrect, bad ventilation of stored grain. “That is why our equipment includes the option for automated control of the ventilation process, consistent with the right technology. ITG solves one extremely important for the whole world problem – protection of our vital food. We will make our best efforts to convince everyone how important is the safety storage process. There is always a solution, there is a way and we are here.” Mr. Boradjiev says.

Here are Mr. Boradjiev’s answers to our questions:

Infotech Group is an important company that exports to dozens of countries. Could you tell us about Infotech and its activities? What is the position and role of your company in the sector? Infotech-Group Ltd (or as it is known ITG, in short) is founded in Sofia, Bulgaria. The company is specialized in elaborating, manufacturing and development of equipment for monitoring and control of the grain temperature during its storage period. We are doing this for more than 20 years. We have deep knowledge and great experience in these technologies and in the grain storage process as a whole.

We perfectly know that the healthy storage process is extremely important for the food safety. So we offer also installation, service and maintenance of our systems and professional assistance. Thus we assure complex high-quality service, capable to reduce the losses, to assure preservation of the grain quality and increase the profit. Placing reliability, safety and tranquility at the disposal of our clients and partners is the main reason for the growing role of ITG® in the sector.

50-60 percent of cereals can be lost during storage. Reducing these losses is vital for food safety. Can you tell us about the solutions and products Infotech offers to prevent these losses? Grain is of fundamental significance for the whole world. Keeping it in good quality must be the main goal of this sector. Temperature monitoring of stored grain is the base for a safe storage process, because, as it is well known, the temperature gives a lot of information for the conditions and the processes occurring in the grain. Regular temperature monitoring gives the chance precautions to be taken. That is why it is so important equipment of this type to be completely reliable. We manufacture our products in accordance with the highest requirements. Our sensor cables are ATEX certified, we have GOST-R certificate for our equipment and also it complies with LIDAS requirements and not least, the modules of the ITG® system have long life and are very reliable, such as the world-famous ITG® sensor cables.

Our temperature monitoring system offers the possibility for constant and even remote access to the measured data, various types of analytical reports, analyses, alarm receipt if temperature changes go beyond the limits. A very big percentage of crop losses is due to incorrect, bad ventilation of stored grain that is why our equipment includes the option for automated control of the ventilation process, consistent with the right technology.

Infotech Group presents also another option - a complete solution for ecological and safety storage process. Monitoring the temperature with ITG® systems and cooling the grain with Conserfrio® grain cooling machines is an excellent combination. Cooling the grain means: no fumigation, long safety storage, completely independent from the weather conditions, preserved grain quality, significantly reduced losses, better profit.

‘Innovation and ‘R&D’ are the key to success today. Could you tell us about your innovations in the field of grain temperature control and ventilation systems? We constantly develop our products to provide more modern and more efficient services to our customers. We created a web-based platform, called Grain Cloud, which is accessible from any device having an internet connection – mobile phone, notebook, PC, tablet. This is a secured, closed, innovative cloud-technology. If you have ITG® temperature monitoring system, installed at your site, with Grain Cloud you could access the data from it wherever you are. The system assures real-time data about the temperatures measured in the storages, generation of various types of analytical reports for a chosen period of time or storage/s, regular receipt of temperature reports in your e-mail, alarm notification on your device when the temperature changes beyond the set limits. In the same time it has an intuitive interface and is very simple to use. We have our plans for developing and enlarging the system, turning it into a multifunctional system of customers’ service, including automated control of the ventilation process, precise level monitoring etc.

Could you give some information about your facilities and production capacity? The main manufacturing facilities are based in Sofia, Bulgaria and some activities in Turkey. We have a big production capacity due to the full manufacturing cycle, we have developed. We elaborate and manufacture by ourselves every detail, part or module of our equipment in our production workshops. That is why we are capable to assure high quality, to keep schedules, to deliver on time. Holding the whole process in our hands gives us flexibility in introducing our innovations.

As I mentioned above we offer also installation, service and maintenance, including remote on-line assistance, for which are responsible our service teams in Sofia and Cherkezkoy.

Infotech started its operations 22 years ago in Bulgaria. However, it quickly became an international company exporting to more than 60 countries. What is the secret behind this success? We give value to our clients, that is the secret. Their satisfaction is of great importance and the best advertisement for us. As I already said we all have deep knowledge and big experience in the grain storage process and technologies. We well know the problems and the needs of our customers and we always try to offer them simple but reliable solutions at cost-effective prices without allowing compromises with the quality. We are correct and loyal with our customers and partners, we know that our customers will rely on our help in the future and we will be there. At least, but not last is the goodwill, high spirit and very, very hard work.

In which markets are you most active? Are there some priority regions that you see as a target market and focus on? We have more than 280 sites in Bulgaria and more than 300 in Turkey, equipped with our systems. Turkey is country with great capacity, high-speed industry development and also it is a bridge to so many countries and regions in Asia, Middle East, Africa, so we could say for sure that Turkey is a target market, but Europe, Russia and Ukraine are also at our focus.

As you said Turkey is an important grain country and acts as a bridge between many countries and regions with its geostrategic location. You opened a new office in Turkey. Can you give some information about your activities and targets in Turkey? Undoubtedly Turkey is a very important country with great potential. We began our collaboration with Turkey 14 years ago. I found Infotech Group San Tic. in 2012 with an office based in Bursa. Two years ago I closed the office in Bursa and opened a new office in a logistically better location in Cherkezkoy. Also, we found in Turkey good partners and collaborators with who we believe will keep and develop good collaboration. We develop and enlarge our services in installation and maintenance of our systems, as well as some production activities. We also have on-line assistance services in our office in Cherkezkoy.

What are your plans and expectations for the coming years as a company? In general, we will keep the direction we have always followed with the guiding goal to help our clients to keep the grain, to preserve its quality and increase their profit. Even 1 kilo of grain must not be lost. We make plans to develop our products and services in a way to enlarge the customer’s knowledge about the safe storage process. We dream of an absolutely error-free storage process and we believe we could offer it to the customers. Hard work!

Is there anything else you would like to communicate to our readers? I just want to draw a general conclusion that ITG solves one extremely important for the whole world problem – protection of our vital food. We will make our best efforts to convince everyone how important is the safety storage process. There is always a solution, there is a way and we are here.