21
th
7 edition, Autumn 2015
Foreword Have you finished your list yet? One annually recurring task is to create lists. Lists containing what still has to be completed by the end of this year, as well as what we should be doing next year. Of course, lists are something we have to do at home as well. Whether they are "still-to-do" lists, or, for example, a wish-list for Christmas. Lists are necessary to prevent problems in both business and leisure. Of course, you have to be prepared to carry out the actions on the lists! Apart from these lists, in our industry there are lists created by others on a regular basis. Lists that have something to say about the biggest, the best, the most successful, or whatever. These lists are, in our opinion, mostly subjective and arbitrary; however, they are positively received by nominees and not so enthusiastically by those not nominated. We do not get too caught up in these lists for the reasons mentioned earlier. For us, only one list is important; the preference list of our customers. That's because we always want to be their undisputed number one when it comes to their investment plans. We fully focus on this, and we try to do this throughout the entire company. This is confirmed by the many loyal customers we have worldwide - we try to remain the leader, but in our own way. Once again, you can find some fine examples in this newsletter. Happy reading, and remember your lists!
IN THIS NEWSLETTER Foreword Customer interview: Alev Semker Akal Personnel changes Rainbow Tunisia Biomass boiler Australia Horeswood nurseries GSK Kenya Trade fairs Vacancies
Peter Spaans, Director
Customer interview with Alev Semker Akal Semay & Akas, Turkey
Alev Semker Akal in one of her greenhouses
104.000 m² Turn-key Geothermal, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, tomatoes 1. Can you tell us something about yourself. What is your education, profession? I studied Computer Programming in Bosphorus University in Istanbul and Economics in Middle East Technical University in Ankara. I started my career in Ata Construction Company, the company that built the world’s 5th largest dam and hydroelectric power plant in the southeastern part of Turkey. In this company I worked for eight years in different departments, such as Information Technology, Human Resources, Trade and Public Relations. I founded my own company for importing and wholesaling baby care products and toys in the 1990s. After 3 years we created our own brand, we moved into retail and started to open stores. Then, as a complementary, we also established children amusement parks in shopping centers. In 2012, after acquiring more than 45 stores and amusement centers, I sold this company to a private equity fund. For 6 years, I have been the president of Enerji-Su Construction Company, a 60 year-old company in construction, drilling and grouting. Now, besides the greenhouse business, we have some investments in organic agriculture, construction and the renovation of some old buildings in the historical part of Istanbul. 2. How long has your company been around? Semay Tarim and Akas Tarim were founded in 2012, and it’s been a year since we started producing cluster tomatoes.
5. How are you marketing your crops? Thanks to our marketing team, we didn’t have any problem entering the local market. Our sense of quality and difference helped us become one of the top 3 tomato brands. The next step for us is being permanently on top. 6. How long have you been working with Van der Hoeven? We met Van der Hoeven in 2012, when we decided to invest in this business. So we have been working together nearly 3 years. 7. What do you think of the collaboration with Van der Hoeven in this project? We are very happy to work with Van der Hoeven. Thanks to the efforts of the Van der Hoeven Project Manager Karina Verweij, we completed our project within the estimated time and to a high quality. We met very nice people during the project and we are also very happy with the after-sales service. 8. What do you think of your greenhouse, is there anything you would like to emphasize? Our greenhouses are considered among the best in Turkey, and they may be the best for now. Visitors cannot stop expressing their admiration and paying compliments. We had a severe winter in our first year and we didn’t have to deal with any major problems.
3. How many people do you have working for you? We have 110 people in total working with us, including our twin greenhouses in Afyonkarahisar and headquarters in Istanbul. Working with a big, ambitious and strong team is an important detail of our strategy to reach our targets in the agriculture sector.
9. Why did you choose Van der Hoeven? We contacted many companies and had several meetings with some of them. Although price was very important in making the decision, it was not the only driver in choosing the right company. We were impressed by the professionalism of Van der Hoeven. We could always reach the relevant people and received answers to our questions quickly. VDH is a well-organized company.
4. What crops are you growing? We are growing cluster tomatoes and a small amount of cherry tomatoes. We have chosen a variety which may not be considered as very productive in kilograms, but it has a very nice color, taste, smell and size for the Turkish market, which means we can make up for it with a good price.
10. What is your ambition for the next 5 years? Agriculture is the key sector in our plans for the next 10 years. So, our priority is to surpass the quality of Turkey in tomato growing and be a leader in the local market and become an important exporter. After we become a pro in tomato growing we have plans to grow other products and expand our 50 ha field.
Personnel changes On 3 August, Don Kester started in the position of Sales Manager. On 1 September, Ilias Choudalis started in the position of Commissioning Manager.
Don Kester Address: J.M. van der Hoeven B.V. Postbus 5115 2600 GC Delft Visiting address: Vrij- Harnasch 124 2635 BZ Den Hoorn
Ilias Choudalis
Rainbow 'hibernates' in Tunisia Last Spring the Dutch grower association Rainbow acquired an existing poly greenhouse in northern Tunisia that is suitable for the production of young plants. The plan to grow peppers abroad in the winter months took Rainbow to many different places around the world. However, the final choice was made to 'hibernate' in Tunisia. Formerly, the company was producing young plants in the greenhouse, which was not suitable to grow vegetables in. It was decided to strip the greenhouse with the help of the company's local employees. Van der Hoeven was then asked to create a specification for the construction of a suitable technical heating and water system. The greenhouse was already equipped with a boiler and there were preparations for a CO2 installation because the young plants had been heated with pipe heating. The company was already equipped with a climate control computer and a water unit, with which the mother plants were watered using drippers. Van der Hoeven developed a complete specification with assembly drawings. Employees from Rainbow started looking for materials for the heating system in Tunisia. Parts that were not available in Tunisia were delivered via Van der Hoeven. At the moment, the plants are cultivated in the Tunisian greenhouse with substrate mats on the floor. The groundwork was completed by another Dutch company. The technical heating and water system was built onsite by a local contractor, which was overseen by their own staff. Meanwhile, in week 36, the first plants were planted in North Africa and we can look back on a successful renovation.
Wood-fired biomass boiler in Two Wells Australia When d'Vine Ripe took the decision to purchase a wood-fired biomass boiler, they turned to Van der Hoeven with a request to plumb this biomass boiler into their existing system. The project was conducted under the guidance of, and in cooperation with, Trice Project + Development Managers. Van der Hoeven has built three greenhouses and two boiler houses for d'Vine Ripe over the years. The biomass boiler is connected to the boiler house installation from phases 1 and 2, which previously consisted of two gas-fired Crone 11 MW boilers with a Van Dijk condenser and two 1.600 m³ heat storage tanks. The system has been extended with a wood-fired 9.5 MW boiler built by the New Zealand supplier, Morrow Engineering. In close consultation with Morrow, the most efficient connection of the biomass boiler to the existing installation was determined. The biomass boiler is located approximately 260 m from the existing boiler house, causing the project to require approximately 530 m of ø273 mm pipe work, including the required appendages. A point of interest during construction was the short time frame in which the work had to be completed in order to commission the biomass boiler at the appointed time. With proper coordination between Trice, d'Vine Ripe and Van der Hoeven, the connection of the biomass boiler to the existing boiler installation was completed in just 8 days, and commissioning was carried out as planned. To top it all off, the new plumbing from Van der Hoeven was isolated and, in addition to a satisfied customer, an example of the quality that Van der Hoeven pursues in each project was once again left behind.
Trade Fairs - Agro Innovation 2015 18 - 20 November 2015, Tokyo Big Sight, Japan
- Growtech Eurasia 2015 2 - 5 December 2015, Antalya Expo Center, Turkey
- Fruit Logistica 2016 3 - 5 February 2016, Messe Berlin, Germany
- GreenTech 2016 14 - 16 June 2016, RAI Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Job vacancies at Van der Hoeven Are you one of the three engineers we are seeking? - Experienced Technical Water Project Designer - Project Designer - Installation Engineer Or are you a Purchaser who can strengthen our company? Check our website for more information: www.vanderhoeven.nl
Horeswood Nurseries, Ireland
Growing Solutions Kenya
Growers in Ireland have to face the fact that they have to collect their rainwater at short notice. Horeswood Nurseries successfully begun the collection and recycling of the rain water that falls on their greenhouses. With the installation of necessary ground works and a reservoir, they can harness almost the complete sites rain water and use it to feed their plants. This is bringing them one step closer to completing the desired and planned closed water cycle for their site and one step closer to fulfilling their sustainable targets. Thanks to all at Van der Hoeven for their assistance on the project. Further sustainable steps are in motion and shall be announced in due course.
Growing Solutions Kenya is a project funded by the Dutch government to support small and mediumsized vegetable growers in Kenya. In all, twelve Dutch suppliers are participating by providing greenhouses and screens, including Van der Hoeven. The project consists of three plastic greenhouses with netting and screens, each 500 m2. The objective is to adapt innovative horticultural technology to local production possibilities. Local SMEs will be trained and informed about sustainable, profitable technologies in the field of vegetable cultivation in greenhouses.
Colophon Text:
Martin Steentjes Peter Spaans Photographs: Van der Hoeven archives Final editing:
Daphne Kramer
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