Based in the Vaucluse in the South of France, Sorgues already had a 6-ha greenhouse for the production of tomatoes and vegetables for ratatouille.
In response to rising demand from their customers, the three managers made the decision to build a new high-performance greenhouse spanning 19.3 ha. The ambitious project included a building refurbishment and the construction of a 2,000-square metre technical hall with offices, a packing zone, a cold store and a dispatch area.

They were keen to have a production site that matched the high quality of their products, a site designed to provide staff with optimum working conditions and, naturally, increased productivity. Because the well-being of the people who work for them was their core concern, they enlisted support from human-factors engineers, who worked hand in hand with Richel staff to build the new greenhouse.

For this project, Sorgues needed a local partner that would be able to provide it with a turnkey solution, expert advice and solid customer support: input and technical advice for optimising the greenhouse, through to project management and construction site supervision. As Sylvain Teillet, Venlo Greenhouse sales engineer at Richel Group, explained: “Richel provided valuable input for the overall project design, as well as customer support from start to finish, so the growers could focus 100% on their job, rather than being tied up with construction site supervision.”

This joint undertaking resulted in a high-tech turnkey greenhouse designed specifically for soil-grown tomatoes. A Venlo greenhouse with a host of optional features including a motor-driven condensate heating system specifically designed for soil-grown tomatoes. This system improves working conditions and makes it easier to work the soil, saving precious time for staff.
The greenhouse is fitted with new Optinova roofs which offer maximum air and water tightness, as well as being more robust. Because the greenhouse is even more airtight, the customer has already made noticeable energy savings.

Sorgues chose Richel for its proximity and the relationship of trust built up with its staff, who developed a turnkey solution designed for and tailored to their project. The three managers are extremely happy with their greenhouse, and emphasise the support provided by Richel staff, one of the project’s key success factors.