Sustainability and innovation are the two key words you can easily associate with Modiform. This specialist in cultivation, transport, and packaging systems proudly showcases its capabilities again at trade fair GrootGroenPlus. The latest developments in Thomsen Pot containers, propagation, and transport trays will be highlighted. Special attention will be given to the unique 1933 tree tray, which was developed in collaboration with Boomkwekerij Anton Buitenhuis.

Source : Emiel te Walvaart

Boomkwekerij Anton Buitenhuis in Boskoop specialises in the cultivation of starting material. Bart Buitenhuis, the son and future successor of owner Anton Buitenhuis, says: "At our 3-hectare tree nursery, we focus on producing (young) conifer plant material of high quality. We grow our plants in Modiform cultivation trays, making them easy for our customers to handle. We have 2.8 million plants in the ground, exclusively conifers, in a range of 50 to 75 species. We source all cuttings from cutting companies. The plants stay at our tree nursery for no more than a year before being sent to other nurseries, where they are potted and grown into the final product."

New tray bottom

Anton Buitenhuis has been working with Modiform for quite some time. It started with the bottom of the 1937 tree tray. Anton found that the plants were too wet in the tray. Together with Modiform's development department, a new bottom was designed for the tray to improve drainage. Two years ago, this tray was further developed into the new 1933 18-hole tree tray. This tray has the same bottom, but modified outer dimensions. As a result, the tree nursery can fit five trays on one level of a Danish trolley instead of four, and 10 to 15 per cent more trays can be placed over the entire area. This optimises space usage at both the tree nursery and during transport. "This tray has already been highly successful in the market for over two years," says Ron Verkade, account manager at Modiform. Additionally, Modiform supplies Buitenhuis with the 1946 28-hole tree tray, which shares the same bottom as the 1933 tray. Both types of trays are used for the entire assortment. "We do this to serve a broader customer base, offering the right price-quality ratio with the option of potting in various pot sizes," explains Bart.

Collaboration in product development

For the time being, Buitenhuis can work well with the 1933 tree tray, but he keeps an eye on new developments. "You never know what the future holds. We keep each other informed about alternative raw materials, new tray designs, and possibly different cultivation methods," says Bart. The grower praises the service provided by the supplier in Leusden as a significant advantage. "When we start potting, we order many trays. During this process, Ron Verkade is often present to ensure that delivery goes smoothly and that the quality is satisfactory. We also appreciate that Modiform is always ready to make changes or solve problems if needed. Fast communication and quick responses are essential in our work. Another plus is the excellent collaboration in product development, which is reflected in the good functionality of the 1933 tree tray." Like Modiform, Anton Buitenhuis will also be present at trade fair GrootGroenPlus. "After a few years of absence, we're participating again, partly because there have been many visitors from Eastern Europe recently, where a significant portion of our market is located. At the fair, we’ll present a good reflection of our broad range of plant material."

Modiform at the trade fair

During GrootGroenPlus, Modiform will focus on three product groups: Thomsen Pot containers (injection-moulded), propagation trays, and transport trays. As expected from Modiform, sustainability and circularity run through the entire range. For example, the Thomsen Pot containers are made from recycled plastic (PP) and they are Cyclos-certified. This means the pots are recyclable and meet the requirements to be processed in the household waste separation system. Modiform has also been recycling PS in-house for years, which is then processed into an end product. "Almost two years ago, we introduced a new return system, where customers receive a financial incentive for returning trays. This encourages the retrieval of as many PS products as possible from the market," says Martin van Dijk, business developer propagation at Modiform. Modiform’s sustainability ambitions are outlined in its Horizon2025 sustainability strategy. "Now that year is approaching, we’re busy evaluating our progress and setting new goals for 2028. This year, there have also been many changes in European legislation. For example, the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) was introduced, a sustainability report for large companies, as well as the PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation), new regulations for packaging. Visitors will be fully informed about these current developments at the trade fair."

Propagation trays

The propagation tray product groups showcased at GrootGroenPlus will include multi-trays, paper plug trays, and tree trays, which are widely used in tree nurseries. One of the eye-catchers in Modiform's stand is a series of tree trays, developed a few years ago specifically for an international tree nursery. "This line was exclusive for a long time but has recently become available to other tree nurseries as well. These trays are somewhat similar in design to the 1933 tree tray; they have a large cup capacity and come in 8-, 10-, and 18-hole variants. The trays can be made from either PET or PS plastic. The grower can choose whether to pot the plant material in pot containers or cultivation trays. The latter can be advantageous for handling." In conclusion, Modiform will also display transport trays at the trade fair, which complement the Thomson Pot container range. In addition to PS transport trays, ecoExpert transport trays, made from recycled cardboard, will also be on display.