Integrating patented Air-trays® tray technology and automation for more efficient propagation
Source: HD.com
Today, many of those same growers are asking us to install machines as quickly as possible." Labour shortages, rising production costs and increasing demands for uniformity are driving greenhouse growers to rethink propagation. "We combine Air-tray® tray technology, automation and efficient plant handling all in our range." © Arlette Sijmonsma | HortiDaily.com Bennet van den Brink, (Floor van Schaik), Rob Tolenaars, (TTS, Total Transplant Solutions) and team Blackmore: Violeta Ruiz, Mads Jensen, and David Dobos, this year at Greentech Amsterdam.
© Blackmore Rob has worked in transplant automation for more than 20 years. We designed the system around standard 600 × 400 mm Air-tray® with even cell numbers, making the trays modular and much easier to automate." The standard dimensions optimise greenhouse space while fitting efficiently onto Euro pallets.
"Everything is designed around developing a better root system." Large drainage openings improve hygiene, while an internal water reservoir keeps moisture close to the plug. "The plants establish faster, become firm in the soil sooner, and continue developing without the setback that growers often associate with transplanting." Beyond manufacturing equipment, TTS also offers tray filling and precision sowing services, allowing growers to adopt the system before investing in their own automation.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
