Internal logistics eye-catcher in propagation greenhouse
Source: HD.com
Internal logistics eye-catcher in propagation greenhouse Dutch vegetable plant propagator Beekenkamp Plants has commissioned a new 4-hectare greenhouse facility in Maasdijk, in the Westland region of the Netherlands. Across all its locations, Beekenkamp Plants operates 35 hectares dedicated to vegetable plant propagation.
Looking upward, you can observe three-channel dimmable LED fixtures with a light level of 100 micromol in part of the greenhouse. Water not absorbed by the plants drains through a lava stone floor, where it is collected, disinfected, and recirculated.
The two transport lines run in parallel, allowing the shuttles to operate side by side on a 10-metre central aisle. The drive-out vehicles move 120 crates at a time using a hydraulic rack, or trays using a fork, positioning them at the correct location within the greenhouse.
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.
