Cherry Creek Systems

Greenhouses customers and environmental conscientiousness often go hand-in-hand, which made Cherry Creek Systems choice of a galvanized coating for its greenhouses a no-brainer. The galvanized coating was the perfect choice because of its 100% recyclability, making this an earth-friendly solution for corrosion protection, as well as helping out the bottom line because of its low life-cycle cost.

Galvanized coating was the perfect choice because of its 100% recyclability...

Cherry Creek Systems, founded in 1984, has grown to become the industry leader in innovative design and manufacturing of high quality greenhouse automation systems. What started as a greenhouse company looking for ways to improve its own efficiencies has now grown to an irrigation systems powerhouse whose cutting edge technology has improved greenhouse production efficiencies and quality worldwide. Because the company is so highly regarded, the choice to use hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) on its systems should not be discounted. This not only serves as a testament to the advantages and importance of using HDG but also allows it to be showcased in a prominent manner.

As an experienced greenhouse owner/operator, Cherry Creek Systems founder Arie Van Wingerden was well aware of the highly corrosive aspects of the greenhouse environment and the importance of protecting Cherry Creeks high-tech automated systems including the Echo Irrigation System, Irrigation Booms, and the Echo-Veyor conveyor systems. Van Wingerden was also aware hot-dip galvanizing producing a metallurgically bonded zinc-iron alloy layers that not only creates a barrier between the steel and the environment, but also cathodically protects the steel. The bond strength of HDG steel is around 3,600 psi, which makes it extremely abrasion resistant and provides long-term, maintenance-free protection from corrosion in this challenging environment. As a result HDG quickly became the foundation of protection for all of Cherry Creeks irrigation and conveying systems.

Cherry Creek Systems works closely with their customers to provide specialized, custom-built systems for the near endless variations of greenhouse applications around the world. HDG provides fast turn times, including the occasional same-day coating that allows Cherry Creek to react quickly and adjust to unexpected design revisions while maintaining a customers tight production schedule. Many of Cherry Creeks designs incorporate the strength and versatility of tube steel products. These hollow sections are impossible for most coating systems to protect. Fortunately, HDG provides equal long term protection for all interior surfaces, thus preventing undetected internal corrosion from compromising the structural integrity of the steel. Cherry Creek works closely with the galvanizer to ensure all designs will meet critical fabrication for galvanizing guidelines, ensuring a complete coating that consistently meets or exceeds the industry standards.

Obviously, the selected corrosion protection must be environmentally friendly and pose no risk to the plants and produce within the greenhouse environment. Again, HDG fits the bill, as zinc occurs naturally throughout the earth including plants, animals and the food we eat. Zinc is essential for the growth and development of all life. In fact, zinc is found in every cell in our bodies and is a fundamental element for human growth and development.

Cherry Creek has recently expanded into outdoor irrigation and conveyor systems, also protected by HDG. Van Wingerdens initial commitment to HDG has long since proven to be a sound and logical decision as many of Cherry Creeks earliest automated greenhouse systems remain well protected while continuing to operate today. Its safe to say Cherry Creek Systems will continue to provide innovative leadership to increase greenhouse efficiencies in order to meet the ever rising demands of a growing world population and HDG will continue to provide the foundation to protect these critical systems.