Netherlands: Big energy savings with drying freesias

About a year ago, freesia grower Mol Freesia installed the DryGair concept in the dry cell, a decision still met with satisfaction, as it led to some big savings in energy. "Previously, we had open windows sucking in cold air," says Jeroen Mol. "The air was heated to 28 degrees, blown into the cell and out the back door. Of course that was a huge waste of energy, but it allowed us to dry the freesias. With the DryGair, we save enormous amounts of energy and the dry cell is almost completely sealed."

The DryGair on location

The DryGair is a machine that extracts moisture from the air. In this process energy is released, through which the air is heated. Cold and humid air is converted into dry and hot air, something that is perfect for Mol freesias. "The machine, which runs on electricity, has a tube that discharges the extracted moisture. Our goal is to arrive at a relative humidity of 65%."

Freesia cultivation
In the freesia crop, it is important that the tubers are dried. This used to be done by simply allowing the plants to dry. Today, it has long been customary to dry the harvested plants in containers. The DryGair concept ensures that the drying time is reduced to about three weeks. "The tubers should not be too wet," explains Hadar Fuchs-Rubal of DryGair, "because they can rot. Therefore they must be dried, but that takes a lot of energy. Because the machine heats and dries the air, this can result in solid energy savings for growers."

Concept
The machine comes from the German-Israeli business DryGair, through KaRo horticultural technique. In 2010, Avraham (Avi) Arbel of Volcani Centre, the inventor of the DryGair concept, entered a partnership with the German DryGair Energies Ltd. Together they brought the machine to the market.

More information:
Mol Freesia’s
Jeroen Mol
Overspoor 80
1688 JH Nibbixwoud
E: jeroen@molfreesia.nl
www.molfreesia.nl

Karo
Tulpenmarkt 4 1681 PK Zwaagdijk
Arjan Rood
T: - 56 31 35
M: 06 - 22 79 12 91
E: Arjan.Rood@karobv.nl
www.karobv.nl

DryGair
Hadar Fuchs-Rubal
Economy & Marketing Manager
T: +972-9-7730980
M: +972-54-4973784
www.drygair.com