Redpath Greenhouses have continued the
development of their registered design cosecant rafter greenhouse family
and have added another model to their range which they say offers unsurpassed
light transmission to the crop for improved year round production.
“With this latest development, the view that a
plastic clad structure offers less light to the crop on average over a
full year, when compared to a modern glass clad structure, is questionable.
There are traditional designs of plastic clad greenhouses on the market
today that are more than ten years old in concept. These designs
offer little improvement to the modern grower who is annually expected
to increase efficiency, quality and profitability.”
Redpath's
new Super Light design reflects a considerable investment by the company.
The adoption of the latest manufacturing technology was required and the
use of high quality European ventilation componentry has provided a cropping
structure that offers many long-term tangible benefits to a commercial
growers business.
“Its simple: Light equals Production”
The basic concept of the cosecant rafter ‘A’ frame
truss is that via its variable roof pitch angle, it is able to naturally
offer a number of advantages over traditional straight rafter greenhouse
designs.
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This design with its variable pitch rafter offers
speedy draining of any internal condensation that forms on the roof cladding
improving light transmission levels by up to 10%. (If water droplets
are allowed to form, their shape will reflect light back out of the greenhouse).
This roof pitch also virtually eliminates condensation dripping from the
roof onto the crop below.
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The ‘A’ frame truss provides a 20% reduction in overhead
structural framing, further increasing light levels to the crop.
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The shape of the cosecant rafter allows greater sunlight
penetration into the structure, when the plants need it – i.e. when the
sun is low in the sky early in the morning, late in the afternoon and during
the winter months.
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The building is offered in singleskin (Super Light)
or twinskin (Super-Twin) using Duratough long life greenhouse film.
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This truss design allows both simple and cost effective
installation of a high air-flow bio-mesh pest, Bumblebee, or Bird netting
screening system for the full length of the roof vent system. This
allows for improved efficiency in the use of any I.P.M. schemes.
The company says that the installation of meshes on greenhouse openings
is gaining a greater following overseas as consumers demand spray-free
produce.
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The curvature in the rafter more than doubles the
crop load rating of the structure.
Redpath says that in singleskin format, this structure
offers all the efficiencies of a poly clad structure, including superior
energy retention and improved humidity control, yet can still provide very
similar light transmission to glass cladding. With singleskin, re-cladding
costs are of course also reduced.
For a free catalogue or free sample please click
on the appropriate links.
