2.4 million cuttings a day, 12 million per week, and 500 million a year. Last Saturday, November 25, Deliflor Hoogveld, the new cuttings company of Deliflor (part of Beekenkamp) and Kreling Chrysanten, was officially opened.
At the two bottom layers, there is no daylight.
Several trials have been run before the official opening last weekend. The cuttings, which are produced at their production location in Africa, arrive at the 8.5-ha Deliflor Hoogveld facility, where the rooting process is fully automated. In order to make the most out of the space at the new location, Deliflor chose a solution that uses three cultivation layers throughout the cultivation area. And all possible techniques to control the climate have been used.
From rooting till preparation for delivery.
As said, the process is fully automated. 42 robots that take and stick 4.000 cuttings per hour, filling 22.000 crates a day. These crates are sent into the greenhouse, but on benches, 6.000 benches in total, and 45 cates on each bench. Then, the cuttings 'travel' through the greenhouse. Chrysanthemum cuttings have a rooting cycle of 12 days, and each bench needs to spend 4 days on each level of the facility. This needs to happen because each level of the greenhouse has a different light intensity level as well as a different air humidity, ensuring the rooting process takes place in optimal conditions.
The lift system.
The handling and internal processes consist of an impressive machine park to which numerous parties have contributed. Day to day, 35 employees coordinate and feed the machines, so to speak, but no one enters the greenhouse or touches anything.
Clockwise from top left: Sjaak van der Tak gives an opening talk; shareholders/owners Peter Zaat, Wilma and Jan Kreling, and An and Margriet Beekenkamp; the new logo; and Sjaak van der Tak, director Otto van Tuijl, Peter Zaat and Jan Kreling performed the official opening.
The top and final cultivation layer, where the cuttings can 'harden.'
This set of machines and transport systems accounts for a quarter of the company or 1.2 hectares of floor space. This also includes the storage of (empty and full) pallets and crates and the entire range of climate systems, water treatment, and energy (supplied by 750 MW of sun, 2 CHPs). Cuttings then find their way to the various growers in the Kreling cooperative and, therefore, with 1 or 2 exceptions further in the country, remain in the region. After all, this does not apply to the flowers, which ultimately travel all over the world.
Food and drinks.
Kreling is the largest supplier of Chrysanthemums to the retail sector, employs a lot of people, and therefore attracts a lot of visitors. Visitors had the opportunity to take a look at this technical tour de force. After a 1km walk, they were generously treated to coffee, sandwiches, and a drink.
Click here for an impression and/or watch the video above.
For more information:
Deliflor Hoogveld
Hogeweg 16, 5313 BA
Nieuwaal, the Netherlands
Email: hoogveld@deliflor.nl
www.deliflorhoogveld.nl