ZUNDERT – Anyone who visited Zundert on Thursday afternoon, June 26, saw firsthand how far tree nursery technology has come.

During the Tree Nursery Technology Day 2025, held at Boomkwekerij Dams and Jos Willemsen en Zoon, eighteen companies demonstrated their latest machines, techniques, and innovations. From mechanical weed control to automated packaging, the afternoon offered plenty of inspiration.

The Technology Day was organized by a collaboration of growers, cooperatives, and industry organizations from the region, including CLTV Zundert, Compas Agro, Treeport Zundert e.o., and trade fair GrootGroenPlus. The goal: to bring together growers and suppliers in an accessible way around technical innovation in the nursery sector.

Technology in motion

Visitors could attend demonstrations at two nearby locations, featuring techniques for weed control, fertilization, planting, packaging, and pot placement. The wide range of innovations stood out:

- Damcon showcased their new ‘Tree Wrapper’, which wraps root balls fully automatically in biodegradable cellulose material. “We increasingly heard that this manual labor is too physically demanding,” said Anne Koster of Damcon: “You’re bent over in the field, it’s heavy work, and fewer people are willing or able to do it. This machine can wrap root balls from 40 to 70 cm, and we plan to develop versions for other sizes as well.”

- DT Machinery presented their ‘tree crown binder’, which automatically ties the crowns of multi-stemmed trees. “Our system ties and cuts the twine automatically, so the operator doesn’t have to leave the machine,” said a DT Machinery representative. “You just drive up, press a button, and the job is done.”

- At Basrijs, the updated ‘PE80 planting machine’ was on display. “This version is particularly popular in Germany,” said Corné Bastiaansen. “It combines with a row cultivator and a hydraulically driven band fertilizer, ensuring consistent dosing regardless of driving speed.”

- Gebr. Ezendam presented their ‘Globus Trike’, an electric trike with a three-meter clearance height, custom-built for spindle cultivation. “It’s much more ergonomic,” said Hens Hinloopen’. “Heavy lifting and cables are no longer needed—one person can now do the job.”

- Van Tuijl Innovations brought a ‘triple rotor hoeing machine’ with an innovative soil-following system. “The first rotor sits beneath the pivot and closely follows the ground,” explained Gijsbert van Tuijl: “We started in 2021, and our machines are now running in over fifteen countries.”

- Nouws Mechanisatie and Homburg Holland jointly demonstrated an autonomous Xceed tractor paired with the Escarda laser weeder. “The laser targets weeds as small as 3 mm and burns them with 30 shots per second,” said Marijn van den Akker. “Perfect for organic growers who rely heavily on manual labor.”

- Andela demonstrated its Electro Weeder, a machine that eliminates weeds using electricity instead of chemicals or mechanical hoes. “The Electro Weeder destroys weeds with an electric current of up to 9000 volts,” explained Stijn Andela. “We developed the system based on an earlier robotic application and have now implemented it in this field machine. A generator on the tractor and a transformer generate the high voltage. The machine can operate across multiple beds simultaneously and is well-suited for organic farming. The electrocuting process is highly targeted, leaving the crop undamaged.”

- AHO Jongenelen showcased their fertilizer spreaders. Michel Jongenelen said: “Our computer-controlled spreader ensures every pot gets the exact amount of nutrients—something you can’t achieve manually or with basic machines.”

Engagement and exchange

The informal setting encouraged interaction between suppliers and growers. Demonstrations were practical, interactive, and informative, with ample opportunity for questions.

“The sector clearly wants to move forward,” said one of the organizers. “Attendance was strong, the weather helped, and we showcased real innovations that growers can apply right away.”

Tree Nursery Technology Day 2025 proved that innovation is no longer futuristic—it’s already transforming daily operations. The mix of collaboration, demonstration, and practical insight made it a valuable event for the entire sector. The day was co-sponsored by the Project: Schoon Water.