Carts, crates, machines, trays, and pots. These are commonly used things in horticulture that need to be cleaned. Steam is used for this purpose. But instead of the still widely used sail steaming, there is also a technique where steaming takes place in an insulated sea container. "Our Agro-Pure is more economical and precise, and therefore more cost-effective," says Kars Vreeswijk of supplier Moleda.
The Agro-Pure allows growers to control the steaming process themselves, without help from external parties. In Norway, the country where the technology was invented, this is already done frequently, among growers of vegetables, and soft fruit, and also in ornamental plant cultivation and tree nurseries. "Anywhere in horticulture where they reuse materials, growers can use the Agro-Pure. With steaming, you can kill unwanted pests and diseases."
Steaming pots at a strawberry grower in Belgium
Steaming with electricity
The Agro-Pure reaches temperatures of up to 90 degrees Celsius. Temperature sensors between the materials in the container monitor a constant, evenly distributed high temperature in the container. The shipping container is equipped with an electric steam boiler. "We build that in an insulated 40-foot sea container," he says.
In many cases, growers now still steam with the help of a contractor, who comes to steam all kinds of materials in a short time at high capacity. "That sail steaming, which uses fossil fuels, quickly costs tens of thousands of euros per year."
Only electricity is needed for steaming. "One treatment with the Agro-Pure for 16 pallets costs about 300 Kwh hours of electricity. That is many times lower than sail steaming." Moleda has since sold the Agro-Pure in Germany, Belgium, and Spain, among other countries. "I know growers who use their energy in such a way that they steam for free because they have electricity in surplus," he says.
Agro-Pure in Segovia, Spain
Flexible deployment
The maximum capacity of one Agro-Pure is 32 pallets per day. "A treatment takes 10 to 12 hours. We chose to keep the power of the steam boilers limited. A higher capacity is not necessary, especially when you consider that growers now often depend on an external party that comes by from time to time. With the Agro-Pure, growers can choose the moment they steam themselves, and stacks of trays, for example, do not have to wait for ages."
Companies wishing to scale up can choose to place several sea containers next to each other. It is also possible to place the sea container on a trailer of a truck. This way, the Agro-Pure can be used flexibly. "We have customers who serve several locations this way. They drive the truck against the dock, load the materials, start the steaming process, and then after 10 to 12 hours they can unload the Agro-Pure again. Depending on the scale, growers can pay back the Agro-Pure as early as 2 to 3 years."
Steaming pots at a tree nursery in Germany
Insurance
Steaming materials with Moleda's technology fits within the hygiene trend in today's horticulture, but it is not a replacement for other cleaning techniques without steam, Kars stresses. "Steaming can be fine alongside washing, for example. We do not remove soil from carts, for example, but we ensure that all the material, including any soil, is sterile and clean after treatment with the Agro-Pure. Proper steaming works like insurance. With steam, you get everywhere, including in the holes and crevices where it is impossible or more difficult to reach with water, for example."
Loading trays in Agro-Pure with a built-in escape door on the right for extra safety.
For more information:
Moleda
Kars Vreeswijk
Tel: +31 (0)6 29297390
[email protected]
[email protected]
www.moleda.nl