How Greenhouse Structures and Components Companies Can Better Work Together
June 30, 2025 Greenhouse manufacturers and component suppliers face many of the same challenges — and opportunities — as growers. From economic pressures to shifting market demands, the forces shaping production also influence those designing and building the structures that support it.
We reached out to members of the National Greenhouse Manufacturers Association (NGMA) to get their perspectives on key industry issues — from the impact of tariffs on long-term planning to how supplier partnerships can create added value for growers. Here’s Part 7 covering how structures and components companies can collaborate to face old and new challenges, leading to better outcomes for all involved.
Make sure to catch up with Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 if you missed them.
Mark Davis, CEO of Atlas Greenhouse: “We should utilize the expertise of each other when we are in the initial design of a potential new project. The customer is looking for more efficient and ultimately more profitable designs to produce their product. By bringing in the component companies on the front side of the project so that everyone knows and understands the customer’s needs and goals, together we can ensure that at the end of a project build, it is successful.”
Dave Stoltzfus, President of Advancing Alternatives: “To pick one area, we can work together more to help integrate components. This would require better drawings and collaboration between the engineers of both component and structure companies.”
Tim Lauer, Vice President and Production Manager at Albert J. Lauer: “Most of our projects involve us providing a certain number of component suppliers to the table with our structure. Those that we regularly provide are there because of quality, performance, and relationships that ensure we can provide the customer the best support.”
Argus Controls: “If structure companies could spec controls more precisely for the customer, that would alleviate delays, confusion, and dissatisfaction. And all this flows downhill to the grower and the contractors. More involved in end to end, not just the sale. Make sure solutions fit the needs, don’t just focus on budget, and don’t leave the details to the contractors who were not in the early discussions. General contractor (or GH builder) needs to be more responsible for the final solution working at final commissioning.”
Duane Van Alstine, Customer Solutions Manager at GGS Structures: “Through forging relationships. GGS has formed relationships with many component companies over our 40-plus years in business, and many component companies are brought in in the design process to ensure that the proper systems/equipment is provided for each grower. We have also attended conferences and trade shows that bring together manufacturers with component companies to strengthen understanding and relationships.”
Paul Golden, Director of Sales–Commercial Growing at Prospiant: “As project scopes and complexity increase, pre-construction coordination between component suppliers and greenhouse designers is more important than in years past.”
Matt Bonavita, Vice President of Sales at Sollum Technologies: “There’s a significant opportunity for better collaboration between greenhouse structure companies and component suppliers. Working together on integrated solutions makes it easier for growers to adopt advanced technology without facing unnecessary complexity.”
John Juhler, Sales Manager at Vostermans Companies: “Component companies are always open to collaborate with construction companies, as evident by number of NGMA members component to construction ratio. Many construction companies have long-term relationships with certain component and may be resistant to offer other brands. They are getting better over the years, but only because component companies will refer leads to supply companies if constructors are unresponsive to the leads. Overall, they are being more open minded to give clients what they request and remain competitive with the European companies bringing product and structures into the U.S.”
Amanda Debevc, Sales/Marketing Manager at Wadsworth Control Systems: “Open dialogs about where we are seeing increases and try to collectively bargain with the same or similar vendors for the best pricing.”
Patricia Dean, CEO of Wadsworth Control Systems: “Better early-stage collaboration is essential. We work closely with our structure partners and have seen how much smoother projects run when we’re involved early in the design and planning phases. Involving the control company directly in grower conversations avoids misalignments between what the grower expects and what’s ultimately specified. On larger projects, when architects or general contractors are involved — who may lack greenhouse-specific experience — it’s critical to ensure the grower has a seat at the table. Open communication about project schedules, engineering requirements, and grower expectations leads to better-integrated, more successful projects.”
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