As the horticulture sector continues to innovate and increase process automation, it’s important for growers to understand exactly what benefits climate computers offer and how they help get the most out of a greenhouse. This blog summarises the key features of Ridder’s climate computers and control features - in just 500 words.
User-friendly interface and easy greenhouse integration
Ridder understands that growers’ number one priority is getting the best out of their crop. For this task, climate computers can be game changing. New technology doesn’t need to be complicated and overly technical. Ridder climate computers come with a uniquely designed user interface (UI) programme, with features that help growers navigate through the menus quickly and simply.
The information displayed is customisable, with each greenhouse section’s data and custom screens. This is important, because every greenhouse is different and for each purpose a grower may need easy access to different kinds of information. To efficiently manage greenhouse climate control, climate computers integrate with a combination of devices, with processes that range in scale and complexity. Ridder’s climate computer UI gives different levels of access to different growers and site managers with user access management. This stops growers and their co-workers from making adjustments to areas of the greenhouse they shouldn’t be, and safeguards against human error.
Ridder climate computers offer a complete configurable programme, with almost no limitations to what can be connected to the system. It can also connect to all kinds of sensors available in the market. This gives growers even more flexibility with their options.
24/7 support from Ridder’s climate experts
Yet, even the most user-friendly climate computer still requires a human touch to get the best out of the greenhouse. That’s why, when growers choose a Ridder climate computer, they get access to continued support from our climate experts and technical consultants, with decades of combined experience.
In fact, all the data that is uploaded to the climate computer can be monitored, altered and diagnosed remotely with the help of our specialists, who are on-hand 24/7. We have team members in every timezone so growers are never left without support.
During set-up and commissioning our climate experts and our local support teams and partners offer fully comprehensive user training. Even before the climate computer is installed growers are trained through the online Ridder Academy, where every user is granted access to an e-learning programme. Ridder explains how to set up pages, how to set-up graphs. After commissioning Ridder supports customers in using the more complex controls and create custom overviews. New starters at the greenhouse also can focus on what it does best - growing!
Cost saving and resource efficiency driven by data insights
Greenhouse climate control isn’t just about gathering data and managing the plant growth strategy. A huge benefit of a climate computer is the cost savings that growers rack up as a result of improved resource efficiency.
Since climate computers control everything, they also track everything. It stores all the data insights of every piece of equipment that is being controlled. It can identify links between processes that can save money. For example, heating expenses may be higher than necessary because there is too much unnecessary ventilation. Statistical tables offer averages of resources which help growers identify and understand the dynamics of their unique greenhouse situation.
Ultimately, growers make lots of choices in their climate control strategy which must be closely monitored. This is where the climate computer excels in providing the tools for data-driven growing and help them save on scarce resources like heating, CO2 and natural gas.
To learn more about how greenhouse climate computers can optimize your climate strategy and improve crop yields, download our customer case study. In the case study you can read how Tomato grower Tom d’Aqui leveled-up their growing strategy and boosted their efficiency with Ridder climate computers.
Download the case study here.
