At Beyond Chrysant in Hoek van Holland, the Netherlands, quality is a top priority. That means not only caring for the crop in the greenhouse but also paying attention to the post-harvest process. As one of the first chrysanthemum growers, Beyond Chrysant switched to vacuum cooling years ago, a technique that has now become an integral part of their operations.
© Beyond Chrysant
Wouter and Martijn of Beyond Chrysant
"We saw it at exporters at the airport logistics, but hardly any growers used it themselves," says Wouter Duijvestijn of the chrysanthemum nursery. "We were already working on sustainability and looking for ways to cool our product with less energy before it entered the supply chain. Vacuum cooling fits that approach perfectly."
© Weber Vacuumcooling
Reliable technology
The choice fell on Weber Vacuum Group, not only because of their strong reputation in the market but also because of the quality of their machines. "Weber has a solid name, and we wanted to go for quality right from the start. Sure, it might be a bit more expensive, but then you know you're getting something reliable you can build on," says Wouter. "We stand behind our products, and that means we need solid equipment to deliver that high level of quality."
Consistency
Switching to vacuum cooling did take some getting used to. "It's a powerful machine," Wouter laughs. "You need to learn how to work with it. For example, you can set a target end temperature, but that requires balancing pressure and time. It's not just 'press a button and go', you have to fine-tune it." Once properly set up, the benefits are clear. "You really notice the difference in the flowers. They're firmer, better cooled, and the quality is more consistent day in, day out, regardless of the outside temperature."
© Weber Vacuumcooling
Sustainable and efficient
Although it's hard to pinpoint exact numbers, Wouter sees clear advantages. "We were already using pre-cooling, but this technique is faster, more reliable, and takes up less space and energy. That fits exactly with our sustainability goals." Is it cheaper? "Not necessarily in the short term. But over time, it will save energy. And reliability also brings value, even if you can't always express that in euros."
What would Wouter say to other growers who are still unsure about vacuum cooling? "It's a choice. If you're aiming for consistent quality and long-term energy savings, this is a worthwhile investment. But if you're mainly focused on short-term cost and purchase price, there may be other options. For us, it was clear: if we invest, we want to do it right from the start."
For more information:
Sylvia van Uden, Sales Director
Weber Vacuum Group
Tel.: +31 612 819 917
[email protected]
www.webervacuum.group
