Lastly, non-stationery benches, which provide even more growing space, are gaining popularity with growers. Movable benches, known as rolling benches, can increase efficiency up to 90 percent of the floor space. Bench platforms are moved by a crank at the end of the bench from side to side. Some can be moved by hand by sliding the benches over the top of long steel poles. Aisles are created where the grower wants to work at any given time.
Rolling benches are easy to move by practically any laborer, which is an added bonus.
Movable benches, however, are not appropriate in a retail setting or where plants must be accessed frequently. Retailers are better served by staying with conventional benches such as the longitudinal, peninsular or other comparable type designs. Bench Space Efficiency Benching efficiency is defined as the square feet of bench space to the entire greenhouse floor area. This number is expressed as a percentage. A grower chooses a longitudinal bench arrangement in a greenhouse 30' x 80' or 2400 square feet of floor area.