Before taking over his father’s cucumber business six years ago, Kristof van Dorpe worked as a crop advisor on the Belgium vegetable market. Two years ago he purchased a 20,000 m2 nursery in Bavikhove and now he grows peppers and cucumbers at two further sites. Kristof is a real people manager, and takes a hands-on approach – together with his team – in the day to day management of the three businesses.
A year ago, SLS 10 ULTRA PLUS H2no was installed at one of Kristof’s greenhouses while the regular SLS 10 ULTRA PLUS was installed in an adjacent unit. Both greenhouses are of the same type and are separated by a wall allowing a true climate comparison.
For his mature cucumber crop, Kristof strives for a climate with not too high humidity. It helps here that cucumbers grow on rockwool, placed on a concrete floor (the previous owner grew pot plants with an ebb and flow system). Obviously, energy saving is an important factor as well. During summer, he wants to avoid intense sunlight to prevent burning of the crop. SLS 10 ULTRA PLUS plays an important role in helping Kristof achieve these goals. The screen opens in the morning at a radiation level of 100 W/m2. The high light transmission of his energy screen also helps him to save energy after sunrise.
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