Metazet is really stepping on the gas this autumn with its innovation Second Skin. It involves a specially developed plastic top layer that completely covers the cultivation gutter, minimizing the adhesion of algae and fertilizer and simplifying the cleaning of gutters. The innovation can be used in both renovation and new construction.
At the end of the first real year of practice, Wateringen notes with satisfaction that interest is "greater than predicted". Project manager Roy van Meel: "There appears to be a need for a solution to continue growing on existing gutters but with new hygiene conditions."
Second Skin at De Bruijn Tomatoes
Tight and even white
Several large orders have already been processed. Besides the 84 kilometers in roses this spring already, 17 kilometers in cucumbers, 28 and 23 kilometers of gutter in tomatoes. "The growers placing large orders now are the innovators in the market. They see opportunities and seize them. They see new gutters when we finish. Everything tight and even white again which exudes hygiene." And then there are plenty of growers who are already getting to know the gutter innovation on a smaller scale. This involves x number of gutters per farm, in a trial area.
Less labour
He who innovates, learns, and so does Second Skin. "We see opportunities to do the process of installation also with less labor from the customer. We are now mainly learning how to reduce the amount of labor."
For the renovation job at Porta Nova, those labor savings that are there were already well evident. Fewer people than normal were needed for steel gutters, Luke van Adrichem explained at the time. "Normally you have a man at every two columns. That means about 15 men per cap. On this project, we were able to move the guides with three men and do the run-out with the wheel set. The weight of plastic is lower and the fact that we can use the existing gutter as a guide also helps enormously."
Left before, right after the installation of Second Skin at tomato grower Varekamp De Zeeuw
Customization
The innovation from Wateringen can be applied to proprietary FormFlex gutters, but also to other manufacturers' gutters. The first project at scale has already been carried out here, at a cucumber grower in Germany. Roy: "We can also apply Second Skin to gutters that are not ours. For this, of course, we need more engineering because we are not familiar with that gutter."
In any case, they are still testing with various sizes to be able to provide customized solutions. "This requires a bit more attention, and making test pieces. With that, we can validate whether we have the right fit."
Trial section at Helderman Paprika. 10 gutters of 140 meters in length in various designs to test which designs are suitable for pepper cultivation i.c.w. the FormFlex AG cultivation gutter.
International
The first international project with Second Skin has now been completed. Because of the innovative nature of the product, the first choice was to work close to home. For example, at Porta Nova last spring. But now that the momentum and the experience are there, growth is possible. Also with new construction. "We have not yet realized a new building, but it is definitely coming."
For more information:
Metazet B.V.
De Lierseweg 6
2291 PD Wateringen, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (174) 22 58 22
[email protected]
www.metazet.com