Removing old screen cloth in spring?

Is your screen cloth in need of replacement? Usually this would really be something to handle during a crop rotation. At least that is what is often thought. At Screen4Seasons they’ve noticed that there are advantages to removing the old cloth in the spring. "You have more light in the greenhouse all summer long," says Paul Barendse of Screen4Seasons. The company has developed a special machine to take out the screens in a producing greenhouse.

Hectic

The crop rotation can be a tremendously hectic time. Everything has to be done at the same time. To provide some relief, Screens4Seasons has developed a machine that allows the screen cloth to be removed when the crop is still in. This also prevents shadows from the cloth packet in the greenhouse during the rest of this growing season.

The screen cloth machine runs over the pipe rail system and carefully rolls the cloth up between the plants. "The crop isn’t damaged and the fabric can easily be discarded," Barendse shows. "The wire can also be renewed now. Then you’re one step ahead during crop rotation."

Currently the screen cloth is being removed in a tomato greenhouse in the Dutch town of Monster. There’s no loss of time – it’s just as fast as in autumn. "More light in the greenhouse, less hectic during crop rotation and a better distribution of labor and investment," Barendse sums up. "We believe the knife cuts both ways."

For more information
Screen4seasons
Kamperfoelie 29
2671 NJ Naaldwijk
info@screen4seasons.nl
www.screen4seasons.nl