"Supplying vegetables to the G20 meeting is the best compliment you can get"

Hydroponic vegetable cultivation is nothing new, but there are still plenty of developments in this cultivation method. Since 2012, André van der Stoel has been working with his company Industrial Product Solutions to develop new approaches to hydroponics. "We specialize in the design and production of hydroponic systems and everything related to the cultivation of vegetable crops, pot plants and propagation material."

André van der Stoel next to two of his employees who are busy welding a so-called float stacker.

Animation of the float stacker in action.

Gutters or ponds
The company from 's-Gravendeel (Netherlands) offers both NFT (Nutrient Film Technology) and DFT (Deep Flow Technology) systems, and the grower is advised on the basis of the climate he cultivates in. In an NFT system, gutters are used where the roots of the crop hang in water. The water quality is constantly monitored and adjusted and a healthy product grows. During the growth the gutters can move apart so that the crop gets the space to grow. Van der Stoel: "This system is less suitable for growing in warmer climates. The water heats up fairly quickly, which makes it too hot for the roots."

In a DFT system (Deep Flow Technology), large ponds of about 25 cm deep are created in which the plants grow on a so-called float (a specially designed polyethylene plate). The roots of the crop hang through holes in the float in the water and in this way can absorb nutrients and oxygen from the water. Depending on the wishes of the grower, a certain number of plants can be placed on a float. There is also the possibility to automatically transplant the plants during the growth process in order to create more growing space. An additional advantage of the ponds is that the large amount of water acts as a buffer to absorb heat from the environment without the water temperature immediately rising. This guarantees a stable root temperature.

A float is lifted from a pond of a DFT system supplied by IPS.

Modular design

Industrial Product Solutions distinguishes itself because its systems can be delivered fully automated as well as for manual use. Van der Stoel: "We deliver our systems in a modular manner and, depending on the customer's wishes, we can add (automated) components to our systems without major adjustments to the rest of the system." As an example, he mentions a machine that automatically lifts the floats in and out of the water. "This allows the cultivation process to be automated step by step, and because the system is modular, the technology remains applicable and appealing to smaller growers."

But their service is not limited to automation and delivering systems. Van der Stoel: "Of course there are plenty of machine builders who can supply a crane to lift floats out of the water, that's not so difficult." The challenge is to also give advice and design systems that thoroughly focus on creating ideal cultivation conditions. It is precisely this combination of focusing on growing conditions and also on the user-friendliness of the system that yields a successful formula.

Vegetable recreation
Industrial Product Solutions is also busy developing new systems. For example, the company introduced a patented system with which dissolved oxygen can be added to irrigation water. They are also working on a tracking system for DFT cultivation where every dependent batch of floats can easily be found in the cultivation situation, for example to identify the cause behind diseases.

Healthy products, that's what it's all about. And certainly not only in the Netherlands. In 2015, a production location entirely designed by Industrial Product Solutions was built in the Chinese city of Lüwochuan. On 2 hectares lettuce is grown hydroponically and now strawberries are also grown on 6 hectares. André: “Within six months of finishing the installation, vegetables were delivered from that nursery to the G20 summit that was held there. That's a huge compliment obviously.”

Strawberries in a Chinese greenhouse on a gutter system developed by IPS.

At the 8 hectare greenhouse area there are also 4 hectares dedicated to 'vegetable recreation' that makes it into a kind of vegetable recreation park. André: "Vegetable recreation is really on the rise in China. As a project manager I am also involved in the development of a 24-hectare project in Guangzhou, where 10 hectares of greenhouses will be built. Production is the main goal there, unlike many other government-subsidized projects that I think are more for prestige purposes. The park will also contain flower beds and vacation housing.”

For more information:
Industrial Product Solutions BV
M. +31 (0) 646713208
T. +31 (0) 78 3040000
E. info@industrialproductsolutions.nl
W. www.industrialproductsolutions.nl