Agri Cooling was established in February 2022. A new name, but one with plenty of agricultural refrigeration technology experience. Ventri Techniek's Peter Maljaars, Arie van Dijk, and Jeroen van Kats, Stijn Huysmans and Stefan Huijsmans, who joined this new Dutch company on November 1, are all shareholders. Stijn and Stefan have years of experience in refrigeration.
Jeroen van Kats, Stefan Huismans, Peter Maljaars, Stijn Huysmans, and Arie van Dijk
"We started Ventri Techniek seven years ago. There were market opportunities for growers and storage managers to use total solutions for storing agricultural products using innovative ventilation techniques. Over the years, we've completed many great projects in the Dutch, Belgian, German, and French fruit and vegetable sectors," says Peter Maljaars.
Ventri mostly worked with local refrigeration companies to install those cooling systems. "We were looking for a partner, but there's a shortage of, especially, technical staff with fruit and vegetable experience. It was becoming increasingly difficult to serve our customers properly. That's when we began thinking about doing the refrigeration projects ourselves."
"But we couldn't build these systems, so we contacted Stijn. We've been working with him, and Stefan, since November. They have that experience and know their way around the agricultural sectors we serve. The agricultural sector scale increase continues, and we notice that companies like working with businesses with several disciplines under one roof. So, now we offer a total storage concept and already have several refrigeration projects that use natural refrigerants. We also have projects planned for next year," explains Peter.
"Throughout the year, growers work hard at cultivating their crops. We want to help them maintain maximum product quality, even during storage. The changing weather conditions and the restricted use of sprout inhibitors make the year-round storage of fruits and vegetables increasingly challenging. Our knowledge lets us find the best cooling and storage solutions that genuinely affect product quality," continues Peter. "The Netherlands is our largest market, but Belgium, Germany, and France are important too."
"Larger refrigeration installation companies are often not keen to set up systems at cultivation companies. That is the gap we want to fill, something we did seven years ago when we started Ventri Techniek. We're a family business that's firmly rooted in the agricultural sector. Companies get that personal touch - which is paramount - when they contact us," Peter adds. "That doesn't stop with the installation; that's where the service we offer from our two Dutch branches truly begins."
"We design climate-friendly, energy-efficient cooling systems that run on natural refrigerants like CO2, ammonia, and propane. Techniques must be sustainable but also affordable. We look for sustainable storage solutions that best fit clients' budgets. We have everything we need to build the system that best suits the grower in-house," Peter concludes.
Agri Cooling invites interested parties to visit its stand (504) at Interpom (27-29 November) in Kortrijk, Belgium.
For more information:
Agri Cooling
20 De Regge
8253 PG, Dronten, NL
Peter: +31 (0) 657 120 218
Stijn: + 32 (0) 475 258 806
Email: info@agricooling.nl