Netherlands 3d Printing Tender

With residual flows from plants and flowers valuable products can be made such as flower paper or dyes. This is apparent from the report Useful use of Corona surplus of ornamental horticultural and horticultural products which was handed over to Meindert Stolk chairman Greenport West-Holland and Provincial Executive of South Holland and associates on Friday 17 September.Due to the temporary closure of the national borders after the corona outbreak in March 2020 the export of flowers and plants decreased significantly. As a result a large flow of good quality plants and flowers remained unsold at the nurseries. Greenport West-Holland and SIGN took the initiative to investigate how these residual flows can still be made of value. As a side effect these new insights can also be applied after the lockdown which could lead to opportunities for new revenue models.Paper from floriculture waste streamsIn the research carried out by the VARTA laboratory 20 ornamental crops were studied. The results have led to several new products such as different types of flower paper. For example the report that was handed over in Honselersdijk last Friday was printed on a type of paper that consists of 20 residual flows from different flower types. A consortium is currently working on the further development of this product. In addition there are talks between Greenport West-Holland VARTA and a number of growers about the development of other new products. Experiments are underway with food-safe cultivation of flowers which offers more opportunities for the development of by-products. Other examples of product innovations are collecting dyes from gerberas or celosia and 3D printing with bio-composites from lily fibres. Finally SIGN is starting a follow-up study into fiber storage at horticultural companies.Innovative horticultureMeindert Stolk is positive about the results of the research Although born out of necessity this research now makes a wonderful contribution to the goal that we have agreed with each other 100 circularity by 2050. It has not only delivered concrete products but has also increased collaboration knowledge sharing and other experiments. It once again shows how innovative our horticulture is.About the researchThe research was financed by the province of South Holland Greenport West-Holland Stichting Innovatie Glastuinbouw Nederland SIGN and the municipality of Westland. Greenport West-Holland is a partnership of entrepreneurs governments and knowledge institutions together they are committed to a sustainable future for the regional horticultural cluster. SIGN works on strategic innovations for a vital sector that contribute to societal challenges.