Growing demand for growing gutter replacement
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Here at Meteor Systems, we see it happening every day: growers are replacing drip lines that were installed 7 to 15 years ago. Requests for replacements continue to grow. The exact lifespan depends largely on how well the lines have been maintained and kept clean, but in any case it reflects the long service life of well-designed irrigation systems.
The same trend is visible in growing gutters. Their use expanded rapidly from around the year 2000 onwards, and many of those first systems are now reaching the end of their cycle. Countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom were among the early adopters, and today they are also the first to return for replacements. In that sense, we are moving along with the market that was created at the time.
While new greenhouse construction projects sometimes take longer to get underway, the replacement market more than compensates for this. When we replace growing gutters, we take care of the entire process — including the removal and disposal of the old gutters and brackets — so growers can continue to focus on their cultivation.
In addition, many existing greenhouses are being upgraded rather than rebuilt. This is often the case after acquisitions or consolidations, when a greenhouse needs to be brought in line with the standards of a new owner. Another important reason to modernise existing facilities is the opportunity to implement the latest technologies, allowing growers to significantly improve both crop quality and yield without the need for new construction.
Strawberries as a key growth segment
In addition to our solutions for traditional greenhouse vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, strawberries form an important segment for Meteor Systems. In several markets, including the Netherlands and Germany, strawberries are now almost exclusively grown on gutters. In Southern Europe, demand for protective fruit covers is also increasing.
We see strong interest in our Mini-Air systems from countries such as Greece. Mini-Air is a fruit cover designed to improve both the growing climate and temperature control. It features continuous ridge ventilation and a high ventilation capacity, allowing excess heat and humidity to be removed efficiently. The system is modular: the base structure remains the same, while the covers can be configured in three variants — Light, Regular or Pro — depending on the level of automation required. The difference lies in whether the arches are opened and closed manually or automatically.
Mini-Air systems can be installed by growers themselves, with full technical support from our specialists. This makes it a flexible and accessible solution for a wide range of soft fruit growers who want to improve control over their growing conditions.
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