Analyzing CV Water
Joost van Buul has more than 33 years of experience at Brabant Plant, and for the past 20 years he has been responsible for all aspects of cultivation. Joost explains enthusiastically: “My responsibility is to ensure that every plant we deliver fully meets our customers’ requirements. We do this as a team, constantly managing the climate, providing water, nutrients, and fertilizers, and protecting crops to ensure consistent quality. The customer’s wishes are always our top priority. Our work is never boring; we learn something new every day.”
At Brabant Plant, they produce only to order. In the nursery, they handle various types of plants, such as cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, cabbage, and flowers. The variety is vast, and customer needs vary. Joost explains: “Take tomatoes, for example. All customers need their own specific plants because they, in turn, have agreements with retailers, for example. We produce what the customer needs, when they need it. Our customers are primarily production companies in the professional horticulture sector, located in Zeeland, North Brabant, Limburg, Belgium, Germany, and Austria.”
About Brabant Plant
Brabant Plant is a family-owned business in Haarsteeg that has been in operation since 1969, making it the first plant nursery in North Brabant. In 1991, Tiny van den Berk, representing the third generation, took over the company and expanded it into what it is today. Brabant Plant is a nursery and offers a wide range of plant material, including greenhouse vegetables, field-grown vegetables, flowering potted plants, and starting material for ornamental horticulture.
Preventing Problems Proactively
“The HVAC system is crucial for our nursery. It ensures a constant and optimal climate, regardless of outdoor weather conditions. We rely entirely on this large and expensive system, especially during critical periods such as the freezing cold in January. It is essential that the system continues to function without failure or loss of capacity, because our plants depend on it.”
“To ensure reliability, we pay close attention to the maintenance of the system and the water flowing through it. Water quality is important because even minor contaminants or imbalances can have serious consequences for the operation of the entire system. For example, if there is too much oxygen in the water within the central heating system, you’ll see bacterial growth and iron in the water. That’s very bad for the system and for our plants. To prevent problems and avoid unforeseen costs, we have the water checked preventively at least four times a year. We have Normec Robalab perform this water analysis.”
Mario Willems, commercial manager at Normec Robalab, explains: “In addition to the importance of keeping the central heating system in top condition, analyzing the central heating water can save you a lot of money. If the central heating system is contaminated, a 10–20% loss in efficiency is not uncommon. This can amount to thousands of euros in lost efficiency per year. By conducting preventive checks, you can avoid such risks.”
“Customers who have us periodically sample and analyze their CHP and/or central heating water systems and perform water treatment with our products find this to be extremely valuable. Normec Robalab handles the scheduling, sample analysis, and product application entirely. This allows Brabant Plant to focus entirely on what they do best: delivering plants of consistently top quality.”
— Mario Willems, Commercieel Manager Normec Foodcare
Central Heating Water Analysis by Normec Robalab
“An employee from Normec Robalab comes by to take a water sample, so we don’t have to spend any time on it ourselves,” says Arno van de Bogert. Arno has been working at Brabant Plant for over five years as a cultivation specialist. “Their experts then get to work on the analysis, closely examining key aspects such as oxygen levels, bacterial growth, and iron content. Based on the results, we add various chemicals to the water to maintain perfect water quality. The necessary chemicals are automatically delivered to us. This efficient approach by Normec Robalab allows us to focus entirely on our work, while trusting that our water is of the highest quality.”
Reliable Partnership
“Joost and Arno emphasize that their partnership with Normec Robalab is proceeding to their full satisfaction. “It’s a huge relief for us that they come to collect the samples, so we don’t have to worry about that. We receive the results quickly and in a clear, organized format. Moreover, we not only receive advice but also automatically receive all the necessary additives to add to the water. Reliability is crucial for our customers, and we expect the same reliability from our partners. Fortunately, Normec Robalab absolutely meets these expectations. We therefore look forward with confidence to the future of our partnership.”
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