Now that there are more productive varieties, better cultivation practices and higher plant loads, more is required from a tomato hook as well. This encouraged Han van den Wijngaart to develop a stronger model. They don’t weigh down or pinch out anymore.
Han van den Wijngaart
The paper clip, sliced bread, clothespins and the umbrella. Important inventions don’t have to be complicated. Tomato hook manufacturer Han van den Wijngaart doesn’t necessarily want to compare his redesigned tomato hook to these inventions, but the fact is that his tomato hook has become much stronger through a relatively simple modification.
Weighing down
The new hook design comes from organic greenhouses, where the use of biodegradable rope has been on the rise in recent years. This rope is slightly more rigid than conventional rope and the winding of the hooks was more problematic. The hook that Van den Wijngaart developed has a slightly different shape and turns out to be much stronger than the traditional model.
Van den Wijngaart: "Plant load has only increased with the more productive varieties and will possibly increase further. Now we have a hook that can handle the load, now and in the future. Weighing down is not an issue anymore."
"The risk of too much weight is high, especially if you use inferior materials," says Van den Wijngaart. His hooks are always certified and the rope comes from Lankhorst Yarns. "This is the only way we can provide guarantees worldwide."
The new hook design comes from organic greenhouses, where the use of biodegradable rope has been on the rise in recent years. This rope is slightly more rigid than conventional rope and the winding of the hooks was more problematic. The hook that Van den Wijngaart developed has a slightly different shape and turns out to be much stronger than the traditional model.
Van den Wijngaart: "Plant load has only increased with the more productive varieties and will possibly increase further. Now we have a hook that can handle the load, now and in the future. Weighing down is not an issue anymore."
"The risk of too much weight is high, especially if you use inferior materials," says Van den Wijngaart. His hooks are always certified and the rope comes from Lankhorst Yarns. "This is the only way we can provide guarantees worldwide."
The tomato hooks. The hook with the yellow rope is the old model, tightly pinched. The white rope sits around the new hook.
Photos of a tomato grower’s hooks that have borne too much weight. Currently this cost loads of extra work which doesn't go smoothly, so the plant takes a hit every time. In addition, plants on sagging hooks hang down too much in comparison with standard hooks - with irregular growth as a result.
Labor
"A hook shouldn’t weigh down - this is a prerequisite. Another thing is keeping labor cost as low as possible. If - due to the plant weight – the rope gets tightly wrapped around the hook, crop work is complicated. It takes extra time and the additional activities may result in damage and stress to the plant, resulting in an irregular picture of the greenhouse. "These costs return throughout the season. A good hook not only keeps labor cost low at the beginning of cultivation but throughout the season."
Because the reactions to the new hook are so positive, Van den Wijngaart has completely switched to the new model. "There are no downsides to it, not even additional cost. We’ve only readjusted the metal bending machine."
Tomatenhakenwikkelbedrijf van den Wijngaart B.V.
Han van den Wijngaart
St. Jacobsstraat 8
4855 AL Galder
Tel: +31(0)76 - 561 16 00
Fax: +31(0)76 - 564 97 88
info@hogedraadhaak.nl
www.hogedraadhaak.nl