Ebb & Flow Benches

Ebb & Flow Benches from Innovative Growers Equipment

Ebb & Flow benches (also known as Ebb & Flood benches, Sub Irrigation Benches, and Flood Benches) have been in use in greenhouses for at least 90 years. In the 1920’s in the United States some greenhouses installed poured in place concrete Ebb & Flow benches. Over the years other versions were used, including some homemade versions with plastic liners on existing benches, as well as some commercial versions using aluminum bench tops. Since the 1970’s almost all commercial Ebb & Flow benches manufactured have been made with vacuum molded polystyrene trays as the bench top surface. These are the type of benches manufactured by Innovative Growers Equipment. The polystyrene bench tops are molded with a network of drainage channels that serve several purposes. First, as the bench is flooding, they allow the water to flow evenly throughout the entire surface of the bench and rise simultaneously over the entire bench surface, evenly watering all plants on the bench. Likewise, when the bench has finished its irrigation cycle, the entire bench surface drains evenly, and the system of drainage grooves in the bench surface allows water to drain completely form all the plants, so that no plants are sitting in standing water.

Our Ebb & Flow benches are designed and manufactured with the highest quality materials. All our benches have legs, leveling headers, and bench top framework made from galvanized steel tubing from Allied Tubing. Side and end rails are extruded for us using marine grade aluminum. Our rounded bench corners are also custom extruded aluminum. The bench tops are vacuum formed UV resistant polystyrene, manufactured in long (1 1/2 and 2 meter lengths, to minimize the need for glue joints, while still allowing for easy shipment

Advantages of growing on Ebb & Flow benches

Save 60 to 90% of labor compared to other irrigation methods.
Save 50-90% of water compared to other methods of watering with a fully recirculating system.
Save 75-90% of fertilizer compared to other methods of watering with a fully recirculating system.
Much easier to control relative humidity in the growing environment. Plant foliage, and floors under benches are always dry.
Crops are always watered very evenly. No more constant touch up watering on edges, etc.
Most crops grown on Ebb & Flow benches tend to finish 1 to 2 weeks earlier than other irrigation systems.
Growers report using significantly less chemicals, especially fungicides.
Ebb & Flow benches are ideal for retail areas. Watering can occur even when customers are in the area, with no hoses being used, and the floors remaining clean and dry.
Ebb & Flow benches can be stacked in propagation and seeding areas, and growth chambers. No water dripping down to lower levels from the upper ones

All our benches are made to order for each customer. Ebb & Flow benches are available in many widths. We currently stock 13″, 2′, 3′, 4′, 4’6″, 5′, 5’6″, & 6′ wide trays at our manufacturing warehouse. Many other widths are available as a special order. The bench lengths are completely custom, but generally must be at least 7 1/2 feet long as a minimum. Depending on our backlog of orders, we are usually able to ship orders of our stocked widths in about 6-8 weeks. Other special widths may have longer lead times.

Check out the FAQ page, or use our contact us form to get further information, or use our quote request form to get a customized quote to meet your exact needs.

The diagram above shows our 4′ Max Roll benches. These benches offer welded anti-tip cross bars and brackets to securely mount the legs to concrete. Max Roll benches from Innovative Growers Equipment offer the best flexibility in maximizing your space and eliminating most useless aisle spaces!