Steel meets agriculture. Spanish multinational Gonvarri Industries, with more than 60 years of experience in steel transformation, has brought its structural expertise into agriculture through its division Gonvarri Agrotech, specialized in the design, manufacture, and supply of greenhouses ranging from low to high technology.
"Gonvarri Agrotech was born from the combination of two worlds: structural engineering and professional agriculture," explain Jorge Pérez and Tomás Pernas. "This synergy translates into a range of solutions that go from simple berry structures to complex greenhouses with photochromic covers, solar energy capture, or even self-sufficient systems."
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Adaptability is one of the company's hallmarks. "We adjust to the crop and the farmer, whether it is flowers, vegetables such as tomatoes in Colombia, or fruit like blueberries in South Africa. It is precisely our flexibility and production capacity, together with our experience in steel, that allows us to design tailored structures."
Engineering is the foundation. Every Gonvarri Agrotech greenhouse is designed using proprietary software developed in-house, ensuring compliance with European standards and the ability to withstand wind, snow, and crop loads depending on location.
"The capacity to resist increasingly extreme weather is crucial. While structural calculations are key, the choice of materials also makes the difference. We use hot-dip galvanized steel, magnelis gutters, and technologies that enhance the durability of each component. This is essential in areas with high humidity or salinity, where resistance to corrosion is critical."
The company operates plants in Asturias (Spain), Colombia, and Ankara (Turkey), which allows it to serve emerging markets efficiently. Latin America in particular is a focus, as Gonvarri Agrotech strengthens its presence in the region. "We want to be part of the agricultural development of Latin American countries, with our plant in Colombia acting as a hub for the region. This proximity shortens delivery times and allows direct communication with local growers. That is an advantage we can offer: we do not want to just sell a project, we want to accompany the farmer from the conception of an idea until the investment becomes profitable."
Each design begins with a detailed analysis that includes listening to growers, studying the farm's microclimate, evaluating weather conditions, and considering the crop type. "The greenhouse must adapt to the farmer, not the other way around, because a greenhouse is not only a place to grow crops. It can also transform an agricultural business into a more sustainable and profitable model."
In markets such as Colombia, where certain crops have low profitability, the company provides solutions that enable a shift to higher-value crops. The success already achieved by regional growers who have moved into protected cultivation highlights the growth potential that exists in South America.
For more information:
Gonvarri Agrotech
Pol. Ind. De Cancienes s/n
33470 Corvera, Asturias (Spain)
Tel.: +34 985 123 533
[email protected]
www.gonvarriagrotech.com
