New Greenhouse Structure Models Emphasize Crop Protection, Energy Efficiency
Manufacturers of new structure models say they are responding to grower concerns with designs that focus on ventilation, maximizing your space, and incorporating a wide range of crops. Check out the slideshow above for a look at some of their latest offerings.
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Apex Greenhouse (Westbrook Greenhouse Systems Ltd.)
Westbrook’s Apex greenhouse is ideal for vegetables, bedding plants, potted plants, or cut flowers. The Apex style greenhouse keeps condensation drip off of the crop, reducing disease and crop damage. It also increases light levels by reducing hanging water droplets on the poly. The slope of the roof line keeps the inside layer of poly wrinkle-free and allows any condensation to be drained to the outside gutter.
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Skyline Greenhouse (Westbrook Greenhouse Systems Ltd.)
The Skyline greenhouse is designed for crops grown in late summer and fall that need a hardening off period. It is an open-air structure that safely exposes crops to outdoor conditions. The structure gives growers the ability to put their crop outside within minutes, and it also functions as a fully sealed greenhouse all winter long. To be financially strategic, some growers choose to start with a double poly cladding and convert to a glass or other, harder cladding after a few years, as their business grows.
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Venlo Greenhouse (Westbrook Greenhouse Systems Ltd.)
The Venlo greenhouse is fashioned after the traditional European-style greenhouse, but was developed by Westbrook specifically to address the extreme climate and snow loads faced by North American growers. This house provides an ideal year-round growing environment for all types of crops. The standard tempered glass roof cladding with a sealed glazing system minimizes light loss while maximizing strength. The Venlo is engineered for high crop yields while providing up to 30% ventilation with alternating continuous roof vents.
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Westbrook Greenhouses at a Glance
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RBI HighLight Venlo Greenhouse (Rough Brothers, Inc.)
The RBI HighLight Venlo Greenhouse is a Dutch greenhouse style used in the Netherlands by many growers. It offers maximum light transmission with lower square foot costs than other glass houses. The webbed truss style post eliminates large shadows and allows the greenhouse to be built as high as 26 feet. A narrower roof extrusion and a frameless roof vent maximizes light transmission.
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GrowSpan Series 500 Tall Greenhouse (GrowSpan)
The GrowSpan Series 500 Tall Greenhouses provide growers with a maximum amount of usable space, while the extra overhead space improves ventilation. Available in multiple sizes and custom designs, the structure’s versatile design uses a durable, triple galvanized steel frame that is covered by a double-layer film that ensures growers have the utmost control over the greenhouse environment. Growers can also choose between roll-up or drop-down sides that can easily be operated by one person. The greenhouse can also be outfitted with GrowSpan’s fully automated light deprivation system, allowing users to gain complete control over the light cycle.
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GrowSpan Series 1000 Greenhouse (GrowSpan)
The GrowSpan Series 1000 Greenhouses are designed to economically produce crops of any kind on a commercial scale. The Series 1000 complements all kinds of growing, including hydroponics and aquaponics, and the arched-roof design minimizes snow, ice, and water buildup, saving valuable time and money. Featuring galvanized-steel frames that ensure durability, these greenhouses are designed to be cost-effective, versatile, and energy-efficient.
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GrowSpan Series 2000 Greenhouse (GrowSpan)
GrowSpan Series 2000 Greenhouses are ideal for bedding plants, modernized vegetable production, hydroponic production, and more. The peak-roof design allows ventilation during almost all weather conditions. With a 6/12 roof design, any snow, ice, and water buildup will be minimized and air flow will be maximized. Specialists can help design structures with specific sizing and accessories to accommodate a grower’s specific needs.
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Half Open-Roof Greenhouse (GGS)
GGS has created a half open-roof design in response to growers’ increasing concerns about ventilation with drip control. The GGS open-roof greenhouse design provides an optimal system to both maximize ventilation while maintaining a smooth surface on the poly and providing a good roof pitch for condensation control. Not only does the house stay dry, the open-roof greenhouse can keep crops cooler than a gutter-vented design. The gable ends include venting, and are made of long-lasting acrylic.
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GGS Greenhouses at a Glance
The chart shown here provides technical details on the Half Open-Roof Greenhouse and two other GGS structures.
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Gable Series 7500 (Conleys)
Conley’s Gable Series 7500 has become an industry standard and is equally at home as a production house or a sophisticated retail structure. Compatible with multiple covering options and ventilation designs, this highly customizable greenhouse offers an ideal environment for almost any application. Roll-Form truss and purlin assemblies offer maximum strength and other amenities such as built-in condensate control features. Flush-mounted purlins are combined with an all-bolt-together design. This greenhouse is also available in light deprivation form.
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Superstar Series 3600 (Conleys)
The Super Star Series 3600 represents one of the real workhorses within the Conley’s line of poly covered roof greenhouses. Incorporating 3-inch-tall Roll-Form arch assemblies, this greenhouse is as equally comfortable in warmer regions as it is in extreme snow and wind climates. Use this house in conjunction with Conley’s ridge vents to create an optimum environment for plant production. This greenhouse is also available in light deprivation form.
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Conleys Structures at a Glance
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Venlo Style Greenhouse (JGS)
The Venlo style greenhouse consists of 13 independent containment compartments. It is constructed with hot-dipped galvanized steel framing accompanied with an aluminum/glass cladding system.
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JGS Greenhouses at a Glance
The chart shown here provides technical details on the Venlo Style Greenhouse and two other JGS structures.
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X-Frame Retractable Roof Greenhouse And Shadehouse (Cravo)
The X-Frame is a low-cost retractable roof house that is ideal for protecting outdoor growing areas of perennials, bedding plants, vegetables, and berries from excessive cold, heat, hail, wind, and rain. The roof is supported from rods instead of trusses. Water drains to the valley in the roof and then falls to the ground unless optional gutters are installed. It can withstand 120 kph winds with the roof and walls closed and can handle significant snow
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CS3 Greenhouse (Stuppy)
The CS3 is a new version of a proven greenhouse. It was designed to provide maximum flexibility. Growers can choose from a variety of covering, equipment, and ventilation options while maintaining common truss and column spacing. This enables growers to easily configure and uniformly accommodate walks, trolley systems, rolling benches, doors, and evaporative cooling systems. It is the epitome of a quality greenhouse structure and performs best when combined with interior automation (e.g. automatic shade systems, irrigation, grow lights, controllers, etc.).
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PowerHouse (Stuppy)
The PowerHouse from Stuppy has the versatility to be a fully climate-controlled greenhouse or an economical cold frame/high tunnel. Engineered and designed for the commercial grower, it provides the strength to protect and sustain crops to yield maximum profitability, while offering ease of construction and affordability for the beginning vegetable farmer or a USDA grant recipient. The PowerHouse is suitable for almost any type of grower, whether they are growing in-ground, on benches, or utilizing an aquaponics system. The greenhouse can even be modified to be moveable around a field.
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Rainbow Super (Stuppy)
When growers need the flexibility of large, open greenhouse space with tall sidewalls, the Rainbow Super can deliver. It’s economical enough to make it the right structure for large growing areas. This adaptable greenhouse can go from hot climates and natural ventilation to fully automated hydroponic production. Combined with the engineered blend of adaptable space, easy construction, and durability, it is designed stand strong for many years of service.
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Stuppy Structures at a Glance
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Dual Atrium (Nexus)
The wide span Nexus Dual Atrium system offers maximum natural ventilation. The unique ridge vent opens outward and upward from near the top of the ridge to provide natural ventilation, offering versatility for all crops at all stages. The structure will reduce capital and operating costs. The Nexus Dual Atrium Greenhouse provides outdoor conditions when the roof is open, creating hardier plant material. Fewer obstructions are present than other open roof style structures, leading to higher light levels. There is less chance of crop loss in case of sudden inclement weather since the roof closes in less than three minutes. This structure is constructed to meet regional snow and wind load requirements. It also features covering flexibility.
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Grand Teton (Nexus)
The modified gothic-arch design of the Nexus Grand Teton combines the energy efficiency with condensate control from the steeper slope. It is capable of supporting overhead basket systems or watering booms without additional structural changes. A straight bottom chord can be incorporated to accommodate specific crop needs.
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Zephyr (Nexus)
Superior cooling and dehumidification is the basis of the Nexus Zephyr Greenhouse. Top-ridge vents allow for dehumidification even when snow is in the gutters. The combination of the Zephyr vertical ridge vent and side/endwall vents eliminates the need for exhaust fans and reduces dependence on high-cost electricity. The strength of the Nexus pioneered, welded truss design gives growers flexibility to hang baskets, vegetable crops, and equipment, in the same square footage.
View all
Apex Greenhouse (Westbrook Greenhouse Systems Ltd.)
Skyline Greenhouse (Westbrook Greenhouse Systems Ltd.)
Venlo Greenhouse (Westbrook Greenhouse Systems Ltd.)
Westbrook Greenhouses at a Glance
RBI HighLight Venlo Greenhouse (Rough Brothers, Inc.)
GrowSpan Series 500 Tall Greenhouse (GrowSpan)
GrowSpan Series 1000 Greenhouse (GrowSpan)
GrowSpan Series 2000 Greenhouse (GrowSpan)
Half Open-Roof Greenhouse (GGS)
GGS Greenhouses at a Glance
Gable Series 7500 (Conleys)
Superstar Series 3600 (Conleys)
Conleys Structures at a Glance
Venlo Style Greenhouse (JGS)
JGS Greenhouses at a Glance
X-Frame Retractable Roof Greenhouse And Shadehouse (Cravo)
CS3 Greenhouse (Stuppy)
PowerHouse (Stuppy)
Rainbow Super (Stuppy)
Stuppy Structures at a Glance
Dual Atrium (Nexus)
Grand Teton (Nexus)
Zephyr (Nexus)
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Brian D. Sparks is Editor of Greenhouse Grower and GreenhouseGrower.com. See all author stories here.