FLORENSIS
new production site
A remarkable screening project: the system Holland Scherming installed at the new Florensis site in Dinteloord. Although this is not the largest project Holland Scherming has ever realised, it was a complex project in terms of technology as well as logistics. Florensis will be growing young plants at its Nieuw Prinsenland site in Brabant, in which it aims to reduce its energy consumption and use of crop protection agents to the greatest extent possible. The greenhouse has a surface area of 60,000 square metres, while the production hall covers 5,400 square metres.
The unique screening system installed at Florensis in Dinteloord is particularly complex, in terms of technology as well as logistics.
From a technical point of view, the screening system posed quite a challenge to Holland Scherming. The system, comprising three unique screens on top of each other, is brought together within a truss that is only 66cm high. That requirement even made it necessary to select the screen drive system with the smallest possible housing.
Using the Smart Spring system, Florensis is now able to pull each screen into a small package.
The complexity of the screens – three on top of each other – combined with the tight schedule demanded an unusual solution from Holland Scherming. Therefore, three shifts – comprising all of 20 employees – worked on the project at the same time. This was done from seven platforms, supported by two Merlo telescopic handlers.
The attention to detail was striking. Use was made of custom-made metal flashings (white powder-coated steel sheets) to make the greenhouse light and energy-tight at the horizontal systems near the façades, for example. The side finishes of the façade screens were also neatly sealed with flashings, and the drive systems are nicely concealed and protected against moisture and dirt.
The numbers appeal to the imagination: the system is composed of 12,000 Smart Springs, 87,000 stainless steel wire truss clamps and 250,000 metres of steel wire. There will soon be181,000 square metres of canvas at the top of the greenhouse, supported by 1,000,000 meters of polyester wire. There was a great deal of consultation with the greenhouse builder beforehand in order to arrive at a nicely integrated system. In addition to the usual screen strips for the screen plates, screen plates were also mounted through the inner façades, for example. The truss is also prepared with axle bearing supports and strut supports.
Smart Spring system for a smaller fabric package
Screen fabric
Multiclip for faster mounting
Grooved roll-up drum for a longer service life
Durable sealing plate made of powder-coated flashings
Protective plate
Smooth high-quality stainless steel cable
Despite the short realisation time and the high level of difficulty, the project was carried out perfectly on schedule. This is partly due to the good coordination on the part of Florensis and the cooperation between the various construction partners involved. Construction drawings were exchanged with the greenhouse builder at an early stage in order to achieve optimal integration of the system into the greenhouse. As a result, everything fit together perfectly.
A project spanning 165,000m2, consisting of 17 compartments with 3 screens above each other and 3 corridors with a single screen. What do you need for that?