Dirty, used propagation trays are places where bacteria, viruses and harmful germs can thrive. In order to clean and disinfect them properly growers are advised to wash them directly after use before they go back in to the greenhouse filled with new starting material. An automated tray washer can help to streamline this process and prevent unnecessary contamination.
If you are re-using thermoform, hard plastic, polyform or polystyrene trays; there is always a big chance that disease-bearing organic material is left behind on it. That is why more growers invest in tray washing units to wash the trays with high pressure hot or cold water in combination with a cleaning solution in the form of chemical liquids.
But what if you are growing organic crops? Then you are not in a position that you are allowed to use chemical cleaning agents? The Italian machine builder Urbinati has found a solution for this; disinfecting the trays with the Ultraviolet light of Cleanlight.
Disinfecting the trays with the Ultraviolet light of Cleanlight.
"After the trays are being washed with pure water with a pressure of 10 bar, they will get a second and final disinfection treatment in a tunnel with UV lamps", said Alessandro Mazzacano of Urbinati. "The UV light will kill all micro-organisms on the trays without harming the material of the tray. This is a very efficient treatment that is highly suitable for organic growers or growers that want to use less or no chemicals inside their operations."
According to Mazzacano the tray washers with UV treatments find great adaptation in Europe. "In North Europe many are regulated and there are strict controls on the products that are used inside the nurseries, growers want to work with sanitized materials at any time because they are aware of the risks of a pest outbreak. But nowadays this is also becoming the mentality in North and South America as well as Australia and new coming markets worldwide, also there, the rules are becoming stricter and the policy is almost the same as in Europe."
The tray washers of Urbinati can wash up to 500 standard sized trays per hour. The unit can be installed independently or integrated as part of the entire production line. Mazzacano: "It is suitable for any kind of grower, large or small scale because it can be electronically adjusted to the preferences of the client in terms of washing slowly for a more accurate cleaning or faster in order to guarantee higher speed production.
Urbinati can deliver the unit with automated tray de-stackers that can de-stack the 500 trays of full production, as well as with a final automatic collecting stacking unit to stack the washed trays again.
Announcements
Job Offers
- Account Manager – North Germany
- Operational Grower - Strawberries
- Retail Key Account Manager
- Sales Representative Southeastern US
- Bedding and Perennials Sales Manager Europe
- Horticultural Technician
- Agronomist
- Head Grower Strawberries, Norway
- Tissue Culture Laboratory Scientist
- Manager Operations & Logistics
"Tweeting Growers"
Top 5 - yesterday
- UAE: Tapping into fruiting crops and adding new facilities throughout the MEASA region
- US (WV): 92-year-old tomato grower has been growing the same seed lineage for 58 years
- Raising the roof at Allegro Acres
- "Biggest benefits for dehumidification at night and during fringe hours"
- Adding iodine to crops: "You don't see a lack right away, but adding it is beneficial”
Top 5 - last week
- 10% increase of tomato production in the new Looije greenhouses
- How growers boost crop yields with greenhouse film EVO AC®
- Stronger plants & higher production with autonomous growing in Mexico
- AU: Provenance Propagation construction close to completion
- Thanks to air-conditioned greenhouses, Emirati producers can grow tomatoes during 45 °C summer
Top 5 - last month
- 10% increase of tomato production in the new Looije greenhouses
- A greenhouse full of cherry blossoms in Hungary
- Combining aquaponics and hydroponics in a 2 hectare Bahrain facility
- UAE: New desert greenhouse near Abu Dhabi opens
- "Same productivity, but without the energy costs from artificial lighting"
Receive the daily newsletter in your email for free | Click here
Other news in this sector:
- 2017-11-30 Cleaning the interior of a greenhouse
- 2017-11-29 US (AL): Hard freeze has ended growing season for warm-weather crops
- 2017-11-28 UK: Industry guide to good hygiene practice for watercress launched
- 2017-11-27 "Giving your plants an unparalleled start is fundamental for their growing success"
- 2017-11-24 Rockwool and green waste after the crop rotation
- 2017-11-23 NL: Herbie new agent against fusarium?
- 2017-11-22 Organic disinfection of trays with UV light
- 2017-11-21 "Turbo fogging saves time and creates the cleanest result"
- 2017-11-20 Weterings Mechanisatie speeds up greenhouse crop change
- 2017-11-17 "Responsibly clean glass with HGC+"
- 2017-11-16 Crop rotation: chance to reduce emissions further
- 2017-11-15 Netherlands: Wet stone wool brings extra work
- 2017-11-14 Be prepared to clean the inner glass by the end of the season
- 2017-11-13 "Make substrate slabs as dry as possible"
- 2017-11-10 Disinfection: Well begun is half done
- 2017-11-08 US (MI): Sign up for winter greenhouse online courses
- 2017-11-07 Preparing your greenhouse & hydroponic operation for winter
- 2017-11-06 "Every percent more light in winter is pure profit"
- 2017-11-03 How to use drip emitters
- 2017-11-02 "Save time and energy with water-based pipe paint"
