Greenhouse Tech Suppliers Helping Growers Navigate Pain Points
June 11, 2026 Greenhouse manufacturers and component suppliers are navigating many of the same pressures as growers. From tighter margins and energy costs to shifting expectations around automation and integration, the forces shaping plant production are shipping the structures and systems behind it.
To better understand where the market is headed, Greenhouse Grower surveyed members of the National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association (NGMA), whose products range from greenhouse structures and coverings to controls and lighting systems. Here’s Part 2, covering the biggest pain points growers mention, and how manufacturers are responding. You can find Part 1, covering key challenges and opportunities, here.
“When we speak with our grower customers, the most common pain points center around rising operating costs, environmental control, and supply reliability. Energy costs continue to be a major concern, especially when it comes to maintaining consistent temperatures in more extreme climates. Growers are also focused on light optimization and crop yield, which makes material performance — like light diffusion and longevity — critical. In addition, lead time consistency and product availability remain key challenges across the industry. As a company, we’re addressing these issues by focusing on high-performance polycarbonate solutions that improve insulation, enhance light transmission, and extend product lifespan. We’ve also made investments in inventory planning and supply chain stability to better support our customers with reliable lead times. Beyond the product itself, we take a consultative approach, working closely with growers to recommend the right solutions for their specific climate and application — helping them operate more efficiently and predictably.” — Peter Luca Ardizzone, Macrolux USA
“Labor and energy costs; our control system monitors and moderates energy in a labor and resource perspective.” — Justin Jacobs, Argus Controls Ltd.
“I am focused on the architectural end of educational greenhouses. I find that architects don’t know who to lean on for sound design assistance.” — Joshua Sucher, Crystal Structures
“For us, the biggest pain point is in integrating all the systems into one place, which is what we specialize in.” — Bob Bruns, Link4 Corp.
“The biggest pain points growers mention today are uncertainty, labor availability, fuel and other input costs, and concerns about the broader economy and consumer spending on flowers and gardening. Global conflicts and geopolitical instability have also affected energy, fertilizer, and transportation costs, which directly impact greenhouse operations. In response, we are focusing on automation, irrigation, environmental controls, and energy management systems that help reduce labor and operating costs and improve efficiency. In the western U.S., insurance requirements related to wildfire risk are becoming an additional challenge, with some policies requiring removal of plants near structures. Many in the industry feel these requirements are not always science-based, and there is an opportunity for the industry to work together to develop better guidelines and educate public officials and insurance companies.” — Patricia Dean, Wadsworth Control Systems
“They have the same issues with labor and variation in commodity pricing (media, pots, fertilizer, etc.).” — Tim Lauer, Albert J. Lauer Inc.
“Funding is the biggest issue. We try to line them up with funding from investors we know, but it’s a challenge.” — Ian Morrell, Climate Control Systems
“They are terrified of being locked in. They do not want to buy a system that is obsolete in two years. We solve this by making the hardware permanent but the light recipe flexible to future-proof their investment.” — Kassim Tremblay, Sollum Technologies
“Low-quality equipment causing increased labor and repurchasing effort. Greenhouse builders and supply company sales reps often take the road of least resistance, thus placing low-quality product in projects. We express to end users making contact to request our products, from X, Y or Z who will quote them, but sometimes you need to ask for it, not just the common fan specs, or you will get the commodity product.” — John Juhler, Vostermans Ventilation Inc.
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