Ekko Vermeulen (Van Krimpen): 'The pot may seem like a simple product, but it determines the efficiency of the nursery'

ARTICLE

PRODUCT NEWS

Huub Snijders, Wednesday 3 June 2026

188 sec

Since November, Ekko Vermeulen has been leading pot and tray specialist Van Krimpen. In his first months, he discovered once again how crucial pots and trays are to the efficiency of nurseries. What may appear to many people as a simple product turns out in practice to be a vital link in automation, logistics and circularity within the sector.

Ekko Vermeulen

Within Van Krimpen, the division of responsibilities is clear. Owner Marco Wilschut continues to focus primarily on product development, the area in which the company built its reputation. Ekko Vermeulen takes care of the daily management and focuses on organisation, strategy and the further development of the company.

Product development as the company's driving force

'Product development is truly embedded in Van Krimpen's DNA,' he says. 'Marco is exceptionally skilled at it and wants to continue focusing on it entirely, working closely with new young talent within our company. Marco also concentrates on the long-term vision. My role is to further develop the organisation and its processes.'

During his first months, Vermeulen deliberately chose to listen and observe first. He spoke with all employees and tried to understand the company from the inside. 'I had conversations with everyone, from office staff to warehouse employees. I also spent a day with each of our drivers. You leave at five in the morning and spend the entire day in the truck. That gives you a good understanding of how transport and logistics work in practice.'

According to him, this is essential to understand where improvements can be made. 'You first need to understand how a company works before implementing changes.'

Pots and trays as part of the cultivation system

Pots and trays are often seen in the sector as commodities: products that are mainly purchased based on price. According to Vermeulen, the reality is more nuanced. 'Of course, you need standard products,' he explains. 'Pots and trays that everyone needs and that simply have to be good: the right quality, delivered on time and at a competitive price.'

However, innovation is at least as important. In cooperation with growers, products are increasingly being adapted to make cultivation systems more efficient. 'If a slightly more expensive pot allows a grower to save hours of labour through automation, that investment pays for itself very quickly.'

Labour shortages are accelerating this development. Pots and trays must move seamlessly through potting machines, transport lines and sorting systems. 'For example, we ensure that pots can easily be collected from the field, move smoothly over conveyor belts, pass through machines without problems and fit more efficiently on a Danish trolley. This can vary for every grower. People quickly think: a pot is just a pot. In reality, however, such a product often determines how efficiently a nursery can operate.'

Supply chain coordinator rather than manufacturer

Although Van Krimpen is heavily involved in product development, the company does not manufacture pots or trays itself. Production is handled by specialised partners, including Bachmann/Herkuplast, which have operated as a single organisation since last year. According to Vermeulen, the company's strength lies in organising the supply chain around these products. Van Krimpen combines product development with logistics and recycling, working closely with manufacturers. 'We have our own transport fleet, we collect used pots and trays from customers and process that material back into raw material. That recycled material can then be reused in production, for example by partners such as Bachmann/Herkuplast.'

According to him, this gradually creates a more closed-loop system. 'Our trucks are already travelling across Europe. When we deliver pots, we take used pots and trays back with us. The material is processed here and then returned to the supply chain. You could hardly find a better example of a circular economy.'

'Plastic is not the problem. The problem is what happens after it has been used'

Plastic remains necessary for now

The plastics sector is under increasing public scrutiny, but Vermeulen does not see a realistic alternative to plastic in tree nurseries for the time being. 'Many plants remain in a pot for months or even years,' he explains. 'The product must therefore be strong and resistant to moisture, sunlight and wind. Plastic is simply the most suitable material for that.'

According to him, sustainability is not about replacing plastic but about improving the cycle. 'Plastic is not the problem. The problem is what happens after it has been used.'

Van Krimpen has therefore been investing in recycling for years. Used pots and trays are separated, cleaned and shredded into new granulate that can be reused. 'We process approximately fifty tonnes of shredded material every week,' Vermeulen says. 'That is fifty thousand kilograms of plastic returning to the supply chain every single week.'

Strategic direction

In the coming period, Vermeulen and the management team want to further refine Van Krimpen's strategic direction. The first strategy sessions are scheduled for May, during which the company's long-term vision will be reviewed. According to him, the discussions are not only about products but primarily about Van Krimpen's role within the supply chain. 'We are positioned exactly between manufacturer and grower. That is where our strength lies. We can bring together product development, logistics and recycling.'

This supply chain role will only become more important in the coming years. Growers are demanding higher levels of delivery reliability, automation and sustainability, while manufacturers are under pressure to produce ever more efficiently. 'When you connect those links properly, you create real value for the sector. We want Van Krimpen to continue playing an important role in that.'

This article was previously published on 29 May 2026 on the Boom In Business website.

Van Krimpen

Herkuplast Kubern GmbH

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