Those visiting the PMA in New Orleans had the chance to meet representatives of Dutch greenhouse builder Bom Group. The company is widely represented in the US these days, working on both local projects and turnkey assignments throughout America. "Hydroponics is the magic word here," says export manager Ton Versteeg.
"You notice that in several states, local for local is growing in importance. We get requests for relatively smaller, local projects from states where no horticultural concentration exists," he explains. "We’re talking about modest, one-hectare projects. It’s all about hydroponic cultivation.”
The Dutch company Bom Group is traditionally known as an innovative greenhouse builder: being among the first to work with aluminium gutters, and constructing 8-metre wide nurseries as early as 1980. This innovative approach is required, according to Versteeg . "The challenge is to distinguish yourself each time." A more recent innovation is the Twin Light greenhouse: a patented model that lets through more light thanks to an open column structure. "It lets you achieve an increase in production. Combined with a higher column height (more than 6m) the pillar contains about 30% less steel than a conventional greenhouse."
Twinlight nursery
Increasing the market is not limited to North America. But the States certainly offer many possibilities. In the state of Arizona for example, people grow year round thanks to semi-closed greenhouses that can both heat and cool. "In combination with aquifers for thermal storage this can be very interesting. Nowadays many things are technically feasible, but the price tag remains decisive."
More information:
Bom Groep, P.L.J.
Slachthuisstraat 7
2671 CV Naaldwijk
(0174) 62 94 41
info@bomgroep.nl
www.bomgroep.nl