Why Disconnects Between Design and Reality Can Hinder Greenhouse Projects
June 30, 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 7, where we cover where manufacturers see the biggest disconnect between design and real-world operation. You can find previous parts of the series, which covered standard vs custom projects, geopolitical issues, capital investment trends, energy costs, grower pain points, and overall market challenges and opportunities, here.
Where do you see the biggest disconnect between design and real-world operation?
“The biggest disconnect lies in what the estimated cost will be for a project.” — Justin Jacobs, Argus Controls Ltd.
“Multimillion-dollar investments are ultimately bypassed or operated manually because the human and mechanical infrastructure cannot sustain the design’s original complexity.” — Adam Pound, AgraTech Inc.
“The realistic time needed to complete projects.” — Earl Craker, Green-Tek, Inc.
“Design is tending to overcomplicate things.” — Bob Bruns, Link4 Corp.
“The biggest disconnect is often between theoretical performance and operational reality. Designs tend to optimize for ideal conditions, but they don’t always account for variability in climate, labor, or long-term wear. This can lead to inefficiencies once the system is in use. We focus on closing that gap by emphasizing practical performance, durability, and application-specific solutions, rather than just design specifications.” — Peter Luca Ardizzone, Macrolux USA
“In our experience, the disconnect usually comes from a lack of operator input during the design phase. Institutional projects are often overdesigned and budgets are heavily weighted toward consulting and design, which can leave end users with systems that are more complex than necessary but missing practical features. In commercial projects, cost constraints sometimes result in eliminating items like irrigation or automation that would actually provide quick ROI and improve day-to-day operations.” — Patricia Dean, Wadsworth Control Systems
“Electrical design and layout.” — Tim Lauer, Albert J. Lauer Inc.
“Growers not utilizing the full capability of equipment.” — Ian Morrell, Climate Control Systems
“The biggest gap is between the sale and the harvest. Many companies sell innovation but then disappear, leaving growers with complex tools they cannot fully use. We bridge this by staying in the trenches with our customers, providing ongoing support to ensure they actually realize the value and ROI of what they bought.” — Kassim Tremblay, Sollum Technologies
“Some greenhouse builders are blind to the actual climate in the U.S and how it varies by region and season. “Naturally ventilated” seem to end up in my contact list or those of our distribution channels requesting help with mechanical for when nature fails them. It’s a great concept for saving energy costs, but not always practical in application.” — John Juhler, Vostermans Ventilation Inc.
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