Roelands Plant Farms expands its operations

In 2018, Roelands Plant Farms first adopted the mobile container system. Due to its proven effectiveness and growing demand from the Canadian and North American markets, the system was further expanded in 2020. Now, the company is taking the next step in its growth, not only increasing capacity but also optimizing existing workspaces and improving earlier system phases.

In close collaboration with Roelands Plant Farms, HAWE Cultivation Systems redesigned this expansion from the ground up. Instead of simply extending existing systems, they opted for a fully integrated, future-focused solution that aligns perfectly with Roelands Plant's high-quality standards.

The first phase of this project, including the renovation of existing workspaces, has already been successfully completed. Together with the project team at Roelands Plant Farms and the involved local greenhouse builder, work is now underway on the next construction phase.

Efficiency and smart logistics
Expanding and improving systems in existing greenhouses always presents challenges. HAWE Cultivation Systems has delivered additional capacity and flexibility. An old crane was replaced with a modern combination of an extended buffer track and a fixed lift that can process five containers simultaneously and distribute them across three input lanes. This minimizes downtime and boosts throughput.

© Kubo

Additionally, a second layer above the existing input track was created, functioning as a "highway" for container transport. This smart addition allows multiple processes to run simultaneously, such as loading full containers while rotating others.

Seamless control
Due to the system's complexity, multiple routes, and high capacity, advanced control is essential. This is where the expertise of SDF Horti Software comes into play. SDF solutions ensure the system functions seamlessly, meeting Roelands Plant's standards.

SDF stands out for its ability to intelligently prioritize and simultaneously process movement commands, optimizing the capacity of the HAWE system. After experience with other greenhouse control systems, Roelands Plant Farms recognizes how unique SDF is in this regard. The company looks forward to fully leveraging this efficiency advantage once the project is completed.

Growing together
This expansion is the result of close and constructive collaboration between Roelands Plant Farms, HAWE Cultivation Systems and SDF Horti Software. "We are proud of the mutual trust and professional collaboration that has contributed to this project," said the project team.