A more narrow clip makes it easier for cucumber and pepper growers to use Agrifast's Tomsystem, the electric system to bind high wire crops with a metal clip. "The system was officially designed for tomatoes, so the diameter was 21-22 mm. The new ring has a 15 mm diameter, suited for cucumbers and peppers", says Alberto Lizarraga with Agrifast.
Agrif
ast, the agricultural brand of the Spanish based company Desa, launched the Tomsystem in 2011, the first and unique electric system to bind high wire crops with a metal clip. "The system was soon adopted by greenhouse growers around the world, as the clipping speed is two times faster than manually and therefore there is an important labor cost reduction", Alberto explains. "Besides, the metal clips can be easily degraded in compost after the growing season, whereas the plastic clips remain for years. This is an increasing demand from growers around the world, as managing plastic waste is more and more problematic. In this regard, the combination of the metal clips and bio twines allow the growers to get rid of the plastic."
The traditional system is to twist the plants around the twine. "However, twisting is not easy, and the workers must be very well trained. Otherwise, many plant heads are broken, with a consequent growing and production reduction."
Tomatoes to cucumbers
Originally the metal clip was designed for tomatoes, so the diameter of the ring once it is closed is 21-22 mm. However, due to the advantages of the system, many cucumbers and pepper growers have used it for years.
However, specially for some varieties, the tomato clip is too wide for cucumbers and peppers, and in that way, there was a demand for a smaller ring. "In this way, the new clip satisfies the increasing demand of greenhouse growers to have an efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives to bind their crops."
The clip is made of ungalvanised steel, making even easier the composting process, while the clipping speed remains as high as the standard 22 mm clip (V46), around 2000 plants/hour.
Spare parts conversion kit
Finally, Agrifast has designed a conversion kit of spare parts, in such a way that the Tomsystem tools working with the standard tomato clip can be adapted to the new 15 mm clip, without the need of purchasing new tools.
For more information:
Agrifast Tomsystem
Alberto Lizarraga
[email protected]