Durable equipment is needed for smooth, sustainable operations in greenhouses, nurseries, farms, and food processing facilities. DuraPlas offers high-quality nonporous plastic solutions for horticultural operations that require weather-resistant and hygienic surfaces for planting, transplanting, and other applications.
The DuraPlas Dura-Bench is designed for use in horticultural applications, where functionality and cost efficiency are just as important as hygiene and environmental sustainability. Dura-Bench offers maintenance-free, lasting, and clean gardening benchtops for growers to conduct hands-on operations.
The science behind Dura-Bench’s durability
DuraPlas uses nonporous polypropylene—a petrochemical-based plastic that polymerizes propylene gas into a moldable resin—to create high-quality benches resistant to harsh conditions. Polypropylene is a standout material, particularly in horticultural applications where moisture, chemicals, and hard use can take a toll on benchtops.
Our skilled manufacturers use injection molding methods to create cost-effective Dura-Bench products you can rely on.
Chemical resistance: Polypropylene is highly resistant to chemicals often used in horticulture. Mineral acids and bases such as those found in fertilizer, pest control products, and weed killers can break down common surface materials like wood and metal. Horticulture chemicals can also seep into more porous surfaces.
Moisture resistance: Moisture is a constant in any horticultural application, and prolonged exposure can cause certain metal surfaces to rust and encourage unsafe microbial growth in wood. Polypropylene repels moisture and is nonporous, so you can use the surface for replanting, sorting, and other horticultural applications without risk of cross-contamination. Dura-Bench’s polypropylene surface will not absorb liquids or break down.
Wear resistance: Polypropylene’s tight molecular structure creates a surface that is resistant to hard use and wear. Horticultural applications often involve heavy loads that can bend, break, crack, peel, chip, or scratch less durable surfaces, such as wood and metal. You can rely on Dura-Bench to withstand frequent hard use without the need for repair or replacement, which saves you money in the long run.
Bacteria resistance: Since polypropylene is nonporous, it's easily cleaned and sterilized with a range of chemicals. This makes Dura-Bench safe to use in greenhouse operations that require clean, hygienic surfaces. Workers can quickly and efficiently transfer and re-pot plants without risking disease transfer within the greenhouse.
Real-world applications: How Dura-Bench supports horticultural operations
Dura-Bench is an ideal surface solution for a variety of horticultural settings, including greenhouses, nurseries, and processing facilities. Dura-Bench’s nonporous grid design offers the following benefits.
Prevents the spread of disease
Horticultural operations are a hotbed of microbial growth and pathogens. Dura-Bench prevents the spread of disease between plants by providing easy-to-clean surfaces that are not conducive to microbial growth. It can help prevent bacteria, fungi, and viruses from multiplying and affecting whole populations of plants in greenhouse settings.
“We are a small, regional operation. Our reputation for quality is crucial for us to maintain. Furthermore, if we sell products that are diseased, our replacement costs would eat our lunch. Dura-Bench helps us maintain the quality we need.” — Robert Brenneman, Pleasant Valley Greenhouse, Oakland, MD.
Supports pest control
Decaying wood platforms and other plant matter can draw insects and other pests to your horticultural operation. Left unchecked, they can wreak havoc on your plant population. Dura-Bench's polypropylene surface gives pests nothing to feed on, reducing the potential for outbreaks in greenhouses and nurseries. And you won't have to replace it as often as wooden benchtops.
“We typically replace one or two broken or rotted wood flats every year, plus the bases. We expect the Dura-Bench panels to last a long, long time, plus they add some degree of structural strength to the frame structure itself.” — Kelsey London, Wilson’s Nursery and Christina’s Flowers, Dallas, TX.
Enhances growing conditions
Dura-Bench polypropylene surfaces do not create dust or dirt that can clog up your ventilation systems and reduce light transfer through greenhouse windows. In addition, you can easily clean the benches to reduce organic material buildup, which helps with air quality and circulation.
Horticultural operations in hot climates are especially prone to high temperatures and humidity that can compromise plant health. Dura-Bench makes it easy for greenhouse workers to move plants and rearrange growing areas to ensure optimal growing conditions for each season.
"We’ve been very pleased with the Dura-Bench panels. The smooth, strong, durable surface area has made it much easier to slide flats around and rearrange our growing areas as seasons change. The plastic is made so that it helps reduce rot and bacterial problems." — Judy Crosby, J&J Greenhouse, Claxton, GA
View more case studies for Dura-Bench in horticultural settings here.
Sustainability and long-term value of Dura-Bench in horticultural Settings
Dura-Bench surfaces are cost-efficient from the get-go. They are lightweight and easy to install, with a lower initial overhead than metal and wood benches. They last longer than metal, wood, and wire. Plus, they promote healthy plant growth through improved hygiene. Dura-Bench pays for the initial investment many times over with reduced bench maintenance costs and improved growing conditions.
“The Dura-Bench solution was about 50% less expensive than steel table tops, even with the deep discount we were getting from the local steel mill. The sections were easy to configure and construction was simple . . . The Dura-Bench tops won’t rot and they aren’t damaged by sliding flats and trays across them. They are also easy to clean.” — Mike Pope, Pope’s Plant Farm, Marysville, TN.
In addition to its outstanding durability, Dura-Bench is made from recyclable polypropylene, which helps you create a more environmentally sustainable operation.
Durable, environmentally-friendly solutions for your horticultural operation
To remain competitive in a changing horticultural industry, greenhouses, nurseries, and processing facilities must look forward. DuraPlas has spent the last 50 years creating and perfecting plastic solutions for horticultural and horticultural applications worldwide. Contact us to learn more about Dura-Bench and find out how our innovative products can improve your horticultural operation’s cost efficiency and sustainability.
