Breda, Netherlands
February 20, 2007
Growers in the agri- and
horticulture increasingly face severe crop damage, often caused
by soil-borne nematodes and fungi. At global level, damage to
crops impedes feeding the global population which increases by
70 million annually. At individual level, growers are squeezed
between widespread soil infestations affecting crop growth, and
government imposed restrictions on crop management techniques.
Products like tomato, potato, squash,
lettuce, strawberry, chrysanthemum and lily are just a small
selection of crops which suffer from nematode infestations. One
of the most popular techniques to retard nematode populations
was fumigating the soil. However, for environmental reasons,
such treatments have been restricted (metam sodium) or recently
banned (methyl bromide). Amidst of these problems growing crops
economically and friendly to the environment is a real
challenge.
The VDL Groep has taken on the challenge
with the introduction of the Cultivit concept. A patented high
quality soil treatment machine, proven to increase yields from
soils infested with nematodes and fungi without applying any
chemicals. The Cultivit concept consists of intensively
rotovating the soil whilst blowing extremely hot air through it.
The machine is self-propelled, track driven and remote
controlled.
After a period of 3 years of product
development, prototyping and testing, we now have reached the
next milestone; VDL Cultivit has finished building the first
serial-manufactured Cultivit machines. This machine will be
presented at the SIMA fair in Paris, held from Sunday March 4th
till Thursday March 8th 2007. SIMA is one of the leading
agricultural fairs in Europe and therefore completely in line
with VDL Cultivit's planned expansion of their European
distribution network.
VDL Cultivit B.V. is a company owned by the successful
VDL-Groep from the Netherlands. VDL Groep, with its head office
in Eindhoven, is an international company focused on the
development, production and sales of semi-manufactured and
finished products. In total, the group, with approximately 7,300
employees, consists of 73 subsidiaries spread over 15 countries.
In 2006 the VDL Groep had a net turnover of EUR 1,1 billion and
a net profit of EUR 60 million.
In the supply sector, VDL specialises
in metalworking, plastics processing, system supply and surface
treatment. The bus & coach division includes coaches, chassis
modules, public transport buses, mini and midi buses. The
finished products sector comprises suspension systems for the
automotive industry, production automation systems, heating,
cooling and air-technical systems, systems for the oil, gas and
petrochemical industry, sunbeds and roof boxes, products for
intensive livestock keeping, tube systems, cigar-making and
packaging machines, container handling equipment, medical
systems and production systems for optical media. |
|
