"Thankfully we are on schedule"

Hard work is being done in and around the new Lans' greenhouse in Dinteloord, the Netherlands. Truckloads full of building materials are coming and going and excavators are going to and fro. Erwin van der Lans: "The greenhouse seems finished, but a lot of materials still have to be installed." Being the person responsible for the new construction, he is at the building site on a weekly basis. His colleague Gerjan is very busy in his role as construction leader.

Last year tomato company Lans purchased 44 hectares of land in greenhouse horticulture region Nieuw Prinsenland (Netherlands). Lans is the fifth company to settle in the area, where the grower looks to expand its production of various tomato varieties.

 

Erwin: "The construction started in January with the foundation. In April and May the underground heating was installed, and in May the contours of the greenhouse also became visible. The glass was fitted by the middle of June. Meanwhile they had started with the screen, warehouse, boiler room, and the water technical room, which have been finished. At the moment we are working on the electricity, the plumbing, the heating, and the furnishing of the boiler room. Leveling and the casting of the concrete will follow. In September things will really start taking shape, because the gutters, drip tubes, and the manifolds for the heating will be installed. The plants have to go in the greenhouse in October."

Erwin explains: "At this location course tomatoes-on-vine will be cultivated in cultivation paths 1.92 meter wide, instead of the usual 1.60. The number of plants remains the same, but we have less need of heating tubes, gutters, and suspension systems. We already have this in place in Rilland and at our main location in Maasdijk. The spacious set up reduces the risk that tomatoes get loose from the plant."

Erwin: "A lot has to happen, thankfully we are on schedule. We have weekly meetings about the construction, to ensure everyone knows where it's at. We have chosen companies that fit our view as suppliers, that have the products we need and help us accomplish to achieve the best." On the construction site multiple vehicles can be found, not only from Westland horticulture suppliers, but also from nearby companies. "We think it is important to offer local employment and support the economy."

Erwin is very happy with the location in Dinteloord. "At a certain moment the organisation is ready for expansion. We have reviewed several sites and have chosen for Nieuw Prinsenland. Logistically this is ideal. It is on the route between Westland and the Rilland locations."

 

Some technical facts: Cultilene 5% diffuse glass has been chosen for the glass deck - as light as possible, and the crops are being lighted by SON-T lighting. Erwin does not exclude LED-lighting for the other greenhouses. The complex will be fitted with two cogeneration installations from the Maasijk location and one will be moved from Maasdijk. "Everywhere is activity. All cogeneration installations are being prepared for the future. We installed flue gas purifiers to reuse the CO2 in the greenhouse."