Belgian company Hortiplan, based in Sint-Katelijne-Waver, designs and installs automated cultivation systems for professional growers around the world. "Our mission is simple," says director Emanuel Marreel. "We want to use our innovative, tailor-made solutions to raise the horticultural sector to a higher technological level globally."
Hortiplan was founded in 1977 in Roeselare, where a small office remains, and is part of Arvesta, the Belgian parent company behind the Aveve retail brand, among others. Arvesta brings together a range of strong brands across four business units. Within that structure, Hortiplan operates as a specialist partner for professional growers, with a team of 65 employees. The company focuses on greenhouse automation and Mobile Gully Systems (MGS).
MGS is Hortiplan's most important export product, accounting for approximately three-quarters of its revenue. "Labour is becoming scarce in many places," says Kurt Cornelissen. "With an MGS, you reduce the number of workers needed while making cultivation less physically demanding and easier to manage." MGS is currently used primarily for leafy vegetables and herbs, but Hortiplan is looking further ahead. Pilot projects are underway for other crops, including tomatoes and soft fruit.
