Visser started in 1967 as an automator of processes in horticulture. "From there, we have grown into various companies in agro & food working in automation." So says Charlotte Langerak-Visser, Chief Strategy Officer at Viscon Group, from the IPM exhibition floor in Essen.
"That worked for a very long time, but now we notice that the market around us is changing rapidly, with consolidation and investors. So companies are looking for each other - but we actually already have everything in-house. So we want to start making it clear to people that with Viscon, we can offer a total package, really a turnkey solution." They are doing this with a new name: Viscon Plant Technology, which was presented just before IPM Essen.
New strategy: One Viscon
Internally, it was then decided to go to 'One Viscon'. "Our mission in doing so is: 'We envision a world in which people, plants and animals can thrive'. The emphasis here is on thrive, i.e. internal cooperation for more growing power and energy. And also externally, to the customer, we present that image."
Beyond automation
Automation has played an important role within Viscon for years. However, they now see that other companies are also making great strides in that area. "Where we can make a difference is in integrating different solutions. In the end, it's not about automation, but about helping the grower. And then you are at the interface between automation and plant knowledge."
Plant knowledge
That process actually started with the collaboration between Viscon and Vitro Plus: ViVi. "That's how we got into tissue culture as a company - and we soon found out that, as an automation company, you don't have much business there unless you really understand the plant. We then built our own R&D team internally, and we want to distinguish ourselves with plant knowledge, not only in tissue culture, but also hydroponics and vertical farming."
The whole chain
So the new Viscon story goes beyond just automation, but automation obviously continues to play a key role in that story. "And this allows us to serve the entire supply chain from seed to finished product," Charlotte concludes.
For more information:
Viscon Plant Technology 
Mijlweg 18
3295 KH ‘s-Gravendeel
Tel.: +31 (0) 78 673 9898
[email protected]
www.viscon.eu/plant-technology