On January 17, 2022, Dutch nursery Globe Plant received the key to a new location in Brielle, The Netherlands, nearly doubling their acreage. The new location is 4 km from their previous one in Vlierpolders. In November 2022, the first bell pepper plants were grown in Brielle and delivered to clients.
Starting from week 3, a lot of hard work was done. Initially, the greenhouse was emptied, and existing installations were dismantled. Much of this was secured for reuse in the new place.
Next, the greenhouse builder and screen installer started with their activities, enabling the installation of various cultivation departments. Each department is separate from the rest of the company. With an eye on climate and hygiene, there's a separate central corridor, ensuring that the transport between departments doesn't move through the departments themselves.
In the facility's design, emphasis was placed on maximum flexibility, including irrigation, recirculation, disinfection, and climate control. In practice, this means that an infrastructure of many kilometers of tubes and cables was installed underground.
Surprises
Renovations always come with surprises. Unfortunately, the quality of the existing district heating was disappointing. Globe Plant, therefore, decided to completely renew this infrastructure anyway, which resulted in a heavy setback in the planning. This required quite a bit of adaptability from the construction partners, but they made it happen.
Tour through technology
The installations overground are at least as impressive. Needless to say, the departments are equipped with all modern technologies.
Examples include energy-saving LED lighting, hoistable hearing for plant heating and a snow tube for control during extremely cold weather, dual screen installation with shades and an energy screen, Airmix installation to prevent cold when the screen is open, separated climate control between the departments, complete sprayer boom installation and disinfection units for all water usage.
Realizing a clear height for vehicles that was as high as possible proved to be quite the challenge. All installations beneath the trusses were aligned to the centimeter, taking into account both the possibilities and limitations of the pre-existing greenhouse construction.
Hygiene protocol
On September 24, clients were invited to see the results of the reconstruction for themselves while enjoying a snack and a drink. Since the hygiene protocol would start at a later time, this seemed like an excellent opportunity to give everyone 'a peek behind the curtain.'
After the client day, everything was cleaned. By now, the hygiene protocol is also in full action in Brielle. Everyone that enters goes through the first tourniquet. Next, you're required to change into company clothing, followed by a second hygiene lock to the nursery. This process has been applied in the previous locations for years.
Since its opening in November, various parties are already growing. As mentioned before, the first "bell pepper grown with care" has been delivered to a satisfied customer, making nursery Globe Plant very proud!
For more information:
Plantenkwekerij Globe Plant
Bollaarsdijk 13a
3231 LA Brielle
+31 (0) 181 40 90 90
[email protected]
www.globeplant.nl