Lily medulla oblongata have a unforesightful shelf sprightliness in stores compared to other flower bulbs , posing a challenge for retail merchant . Quality progeny normally start from late March to early April , while sales last until the end of April or early May . PerfoTec has addressed this challenge by develop an innovative consumer packaging that make up a breakthrough for the preservation of lily bulbs . This solution has extended the shelf spirit of lily bulbs in stores by up to six week , allowing consumer to imbed lily lightbulb until June and delight their bloom .
dry out out or mouldy lily bulbs , or bulbs that sprout while still on the store shelf , are a problem for retailers . If the medulla do not bloom at the customer ’s home , it can run to complaint and , even worse : customers staying off . This is not always the fault of the retailer ; often , the storage at the customer ’s home is far from optimal . Bas van der Velden , the world-wide manager of Kapiteyn BV in Breezand , and Paul van de Loo from PerfoTec have join military group . Using knowledge from the packaging industry for vegetables and yield , they have plan promotion that significantly better the ledge life of lily bulb , even after sale .
Innovation at high altitudeThe germ for innovation was planted high in the sky when Jan Kapiteijn of Kapiteyn BV and Bas Groeneweg of PerfoTec meet on a transatlantic flight . There , between clouds and the world , they share a vision to address the issue of rapidly aging lily bulbs . Van der Velden recall , “ They discuss strategies to keep premature germination , mold , or drying out of bulbs at the stage of sales agreement . This was the start of an authoritative research trajectory . ” With fiscal reenforcement from a regional subsidy in North Holland , the project began , and now , four years later , we celebrate a successful finish . It was important that the results would be shared with the entire sphere . Van der Velden reassert , “ We are happy to kick in . If the timbre of Cartesian product on the shelf improves , the entire sector benefit . ”
PerfoTec perfects packagingPaul van de Loo from PerfoTec say , “ Micro - perforation technique was already part of our expertise . We have now stretch out this proficiency by develop a film fabric that also offers optimal wet and CO2 permeableness . ” His expertise , gained with vegetables and yield and promotional material flowers for postal expeditiousness , has led to this innovation . For lily bulbs , a redesign of the film was necessary . “ Each bulb case has its own external respiration pattern . After four years of intensive enquiry into these internal respiration summons , we now have the knowledge to optimize our film for various products , " explains Van de Loo . This has resulted in a promotion proficiency that adjusts the amount of oxygen based on the weight unit , give up the number of laser micro - perforation in the film to be precisely limit . Specifically for lily lightbulb , it was important to minimize sprouting . “ We achieve this by reducing the oxygen supplying while keeping CO2 story in check . Bulbs need to breathe but at a operate slower stride . This stretch the lifespan and improves ledge lifetime , ” The novel moving-picture show regulates the commutation of CO2 and water evaporation , subdue the risk of exposure of mold formation .
Results speak for themselvesThe new applied science has importantly continue the ledge living of lily bulbs , with an additional six hebdomad of enduringness in the fund . Where lily bulbs in traditional packaging were already subject to quality loss by early April , the new technology now assure an lengthened display period of six week . This means that bulb , previously feign by previous sprouting or mold , can now be sold in optimal condition until the end of May . This is not only a win for the consumer , who can savour fresh bulbs for a longer period but also for retail merchant who now have a longer selling point and for exporters who suffer less departure due to spoilage .
Compostable yet without sawdust or peatSince sustainability was also turn over , Van der Velden and Van de Loo looked for a compostable variant of the movie . Van de Loo : “ A successful termination that we deliberate a worthful addition to our research , ” Thanks to this advance , there is no longer a pauperism for peat or sawdust in the packaging of lilies ; the novel film regulates wet and prevents mold increment . For lily , the product is now ready . They are already looking at other products , such as perennial . According to Van de Loo , this requires different solutions . “ A perennial of , say , eighteen g becomes lighter over clock time in the promotion , and we saw mold formation . The solution was to cut down the oxygen in the packaging , so now we add nitrogen when packaging . We have adjust the micro - perforations in the moving-picture show and to limit moisture loss we use a film with a strong water vapor barrier . This approach was successful with the most thought-provoking product , and now it ’s time to test the intact plant assortment . ”
Innovation driven by subsidy supportKapiteyn BV and PerfoTec have successfully utilized a combined subsidy schema for their collaborative project . This SME innovation task has encounter financial support from the European Regional Development Fund ( ERDF ) , through the Kansen voor West II program , and the Province of North Holland . The primary goal of this subsidy is to importantly speed the speed at which SME origination enter the market .
To portion out the successful institution and the benefit of the new packaging solvent with the industry , there will be an open day at Kapiteyn BV in other February 2024 . concerned parties are welcome to attend this twenty-four hour period and get a snug facial expression at the technology .
For more information : Bastiaan GroenewegPerfoTecTel : + 31 ( 0)297 255 554[email protected]www.perfotec.com
