The career of Peter Hendriksen, horticulture technician and founder of CEE Green, started in the live plant business, collaborating with local growers and research, and also with viticulture work in the pioneering stages of ice wine in Canada.
Officially, CEE Green has been around since 1991, although it was in 2010 when the company re-oriented its focus towards greenhouse business development with the goal of providing customers with high-quality greenhouse and nursery technologies, services and supplies. “I am ambitious and someone who works well as part of a team, but also independently, and I believe these qualities allow me to bring direct solutions which clients may not be able to get in other venues,” states Peter.
ACROBATic Controls
As a business, CEE Green’s focus is the North American market, where it collaborates with numerous client companies both in North America and Europe to provide many kinds of solutions to greenhouse growers. In this regard, Peter explains that “I’ve had requests from places like Asia, South America and Mexico, “but I can only do and focus on so much as an independent business development manager, and North America offers enough opportunities.”
One of the main challenges that has recently come to light is energy management, particularly in western Canada, where the way fuel costs are expressed is completely deregulated for electricity and natural gas supplies. “We assist growers in making clear where, why and who to buy gas from, and also on how to efficiently use energy resources on their sites without affecting production. This service is offered by 360 Energy. It can improve energy performance by as much as 25%,” assures the owner of CEE Green.
Aquamat
Another big challenge in North America has to do with conserving water, and here is where the Aquamat System, of Soleno Textiles, has managed to provide creative solutions to improve water use efficiency. Peter explains that “this firm re-invented the capillary mat system with patented innovations that no other company has.”
Two big innovations were introduced by Aquamat: firstly, the Microfab; a process whereby the top layer in a capillary mat is treated with micropores that allow water molecules to pass back and forth, but which will not allow the plant to re-root; secondly, the evaporative blocker, which as the name indicates, prevents water evaporation from the mat. It can reduce overwatering by as much as 70%.
A third client company worth bringing to the forefront is ACROBATic Controls, which is providing Dutch greenhouse firms, with the ability to export automation equipment to growers in North America that will meet the CSA/UL regulations, dealing with the engineering, manufacturing and installation.
LumiGrow
The last company to recognize within the Ceegreen client list of companies is LumiGrow. This is the first company to deliver a direct overhead LED fixture replacement for conventional HID - HPS and MH grow lights. With the SmartPar control software there are enormous energy savings, lower install and operating costs achievable without any production losses. This is a very exciting time in the grow light industry.
To get a better idea of the kind of services CEE Green offers, the following video illustrates the first year of Doef Greenhouses’ Journey to Energy Excellence; a three year programme designed to optimise energy management.
For more information:
Ceegreen
Peter Hendriksen
Vice President
T: 289.407.6420