Over the last twelvemonth , the interest for garden spike , which means in use times for growers and their suppliers . Also at US container manufacturer The HC Companies , they have all work force on deck to serve their cultivator , with factories running 24/7 . They have a large compartmentalisation and see an increased demand across the board . On top of meeting the demand , they are continuously cooperating with growers to meet their needs . " As working class challenge carry on to run , and may have even grown due to COVID-19 , we are work on creating more automation favorable containers . On top of that , with the new propagation gardeners , sustainability will become an progressively significant topic " , says Bryce Andersen , HC Companies ' Territory Sales Manager .
In the pictorial matter : Bryce Andersen
High need across the boardDue to COVID-19 , Spring gross sales have had a dull start last year . However , from the minute of arc things started off , the need for garden product skyrocket . Vegetable plants and hang basket are categories that has exploded last class . However , all in all , The Andersen detect an increase in requirement across their portfolio . " We have get wind some shifts in sizes and type of container that the agriculturist have been ordinate . For example , a grower might reduce 4 - pack annual yield and increase the amount of quick to go decorative containers . " On top of that , Anderson also sees that raiser are summate space to meet the increased need . " In turn , our three factories here in the US are working 24/7 to meet the requirement . "
High expectations for this springAs soon as the atmospheric condition breaks , people will go out and start buy plants for their garden , Andersen predicts . " Last year , many mass were out there as well , but most items were already sold out at that time . Therefore , we will , and we are already seeing , an other requirement this year . Our retail client are already exact for containers , which indicate consumer are still planting and are still interested in home gardening . "
R&D continuesOn top of fulfilling the orders , The HC Companies is still working hard to meet the needs and the prerequisite of their growers . " Since the very beginning of our existence , we are working with agriculturist to build up container root for a variety of different crop . For any firmly - in effect producer if product are not relevant for raiser , it is not worth pursue . Therefore , it is so critical to get reenforcement and stimulus from the growers we serve . Also when introducing unexampled products , we are working with the agriculturalist , expect them to test it and give feedback .
Importance of automationFor many years now , The HC Companies is pay a band of care on the production efficiency and maximize the unit produced per hour . " Labor challenges cover to persist and I opine the impingement of COVID-19 has even put more train on the usable labor at the raiser level . " For this reason , it becomes even more substantive to develop and maintain mechanization well-disposed products . "
EcoGrow and FiberGrow container were lately certified as FSC 100 % Recycled and USDA BioPreferred , and our EcoGrow containers are recognize as secure for constitutive growing , and noted as allowed under NOP and COR regulation
What aboutsustainability?For The HC Companies as a business sector , sustainability is an important facet . Their facilities in Middlefield ( Ohio ) , Sebring ( Florida ) and Sparks ( Nevada ) produce hundreds of thousands of smuggled horticultural container each year made exclusively from closely 100 % recycled materials . to boot , their Burlington , Canada adroitness , which produces our full line of fibre containers , use 100 % recycled newspaper and raw newsprint in the production physical process . Recently , their fiber software program even take in FSC reprocess 100 % designation .
However , how is the demand for more environmental solutions in the US ? " The largest hurdle for all sustainable product is the balance between willingness to vary at the producer level and the willingness to buy it at consumer horizontal surface . " A more sustainable product is often a second higher priced , so are they unforced to bear for it ? Andersen is incontrovertible . " My flavor is that with younger masses getting involved in horticulture , their involvement seems greater in sustainable practices than some Old generation consumers . We already see a corporate interest in sustainability in all kind of products . It seems more consumers are more gravitating to the more sustainable options and I mean it is continuing the cost increase .
However on the production side , there is still a bunch to addition . Even though there are many growers successfully grow with their roughage containers , magnanimous scale yield can be a challenge as the potentiometer are ( not yet ) automation well-disposed . " Our Eco - Gro line is made out of shaped pulp magazine , which is very environmentally favorable , and design to agree compressed makeweight tray . However , we continue to pursue alternate materials and applications that cater to the mechanisation systems that agriculturist are leaning on to improve useable efficiency . “
For more data : The HC CompaniesBryce AndersenEmail:[email protected]www.hc - companies.com
