To help growers in their fight against the changing climate and all its consequences, ENGIE Refrigeration has developed various solutions for the mechanical cooling of onions and potatoes, among others. Closed storage systems to no longer depend on weather conditions for the long-term storage of the product. The results have now reached beyond the border. Francis Binst also switched to mechanical cooling from ENGIE for storing his seed potatoes, which must meet the highest standards.
Binst has growers under contract in Belgium, Luxembourg, France and the Netherlands. "We sell their seed potatoes in 42 countries. I have to find the best market in a very short period of time for the highest possible price for my growers."
From ammonia to CO2
A good storage cell is then essential to maintain the quality of the products for as long as possible. Last year, Francis Binst replaced his cell that offered space for 7.500 square meters of storage for a smaller cold room that works with the natural refrigerant CO2. To do this, he turned to ENGIE, which had been providing maintenance for his previous installation for about 40 years. "We cooled mechanically with ammonia, which is justifiable with a larger cold room. However, the new cell is much smaller. Then CO2 a better option and also financially more attractive." Thanks to the long relationship of trust, ENGIE was once again chosen, with the realization this time in the hands of the Dutch ENGIE Refrigeration.
Smaller cell, greater performance
The fact that the seed potato grower switched to a smaller cell can be explained by the evolution he observed in recent years: the potatoes were increasingly stored less and less in one central location, but mainly locally with the growers. As a result, his cell was used less. He now opts for a new construction that is more lucrative: his own smaller cell as a buffer, for transhipment and for the storage of products that require exceptional quality attention. He also offers his growers financial compensation for storage in their own warehouse at their farm. "That remains cheaper and also more environmentally friendly than central storage with us in Brussels and all the logistics that come with it."
Bringing knowledge into your home
Within a year of the first pencil mark on paper, the new cell was up and running. "We had a deadline, because the old site was sold on December 1, 2019. We switched in mid-November. The installation worked immediately and what didn't work was resolved immediately by project manager Stefan. "The fact that there is a lot of knowledge of the seed potato world in the Netherlands. certainly helps," Francis explains. "And the process went very efficiently and without much fanfare." Something Francis is not entirely used to from Dutch people, he notes with a wink.
Excellent performance
Because Binst's cell only serves as storage for its growers for special cases, its performance must be excellent. "For example, we store potatoes with a quality problem. They are often moister and therefore require different storage than potatoes that are already of good quality. But we also store seed potatoes for sales markets where the quality requirements are extremely high and where quality maintenance or optimization is therefore essential. is."
Strict selection and control
The Binst laboratory is indispensable for the quality control and selection of the seed potatoes. Here, for example, the samples taken during harvesting are cultured and examined. Based on factors such as germination, it is determined whether the pots are suitable for long-term storage and when they should be delivered.
Optimal storage conditions
"In addition, due to the transshipment of finished goods, our cell opens and closes throughout the day and the conditions must remain constant. It is therefore not without reason that our cell is over-dimensioned and the capacity of the installation is therefore greater than we need initially.
Finally, we store in different packaging. That is quite unique: most growers store different varieties of potatoes in all the same boxes. The new storage cell can be set up in such a way that the storage conditions remain continuously stable and optimal for every product we store, under the watchful eye of our 'master guest' - our Warehouse Manager - Willy, who has been working for the family for 56 years."
Significant benefits
Francis is more than satisfied with the quality of the products that leave his warehouse. "We have not had any quality problems with our products. In addition, the financial benefits are significant. We are at half the electricity costs." His only challenge now is to use the smaller storage space as efficiently as possible. But the installation does its job and makes money," Francis concludes happily.