This morning the IPM show kicked off in Essen and being one of the biggest shows in Europe means also a good place to launch novelties. We scooped some for you already!
With over 1,500 exhibitors from nearly 50 countries, there is again plenty to be seen and to be learned at the IPM in the coming four days.Traditionally on the show the contours can be found of the horticultural topics of the year, since it is one of the first big shows taking place. This year labor & automation are again important and so is biodegradability.
Organic degradable propagation paper
The team with Ellepot is showing the new propagation paper Ellepot Organic 2.0. The 100% fully compostable and degradable paper is part of the newly developed and patented technology for their Ellepot propagation papers. With a decomposition time of 6-8 weeks, the new Ellepot Organic 2.0 is ideal for producers of organic crops and crops with a shorter propagation time. The paper is made from wood fibers sourced from FSC® certified forests and other controlled sources.
Ellepot Organic 2.0 already is certified and approved for organic production in UK, Germany, Sweden, Canada & Denmark. Also the product may be used in Dutch organic farming, since it is registered in the Dutch inputs list for organic farming. Ellepot have also applied to have the Ellepot Organic 2.0 certified according to the “Home Compost” and “Biodegradable in Soil” certifications.
In the video below the decomposing is simulated.
"Other than it being fully degradable, it also has great effect on the root development, resulting in faster growth & healthier palnts", Carsten Thrane explains.
Ellepot is at the IPM in Hall 3, booth 3C21
Saving energy by dehumidification
DryGair will launch new dehumidifier units under the names DG6 EU and DG12 EU on the IPM. These are compliant with the European refrigerant gas used in the machines. “We used to use gas that was called R507 and we changed it to R513A,” says Ziv Shaked, VP Marketing & Sales with DryGair.
“The most important thing about this change is a very low Global Warming Potential, which means that from an environment point of view the machine is really green. From a more practical point of view this means that the machine condenses more water more efficiently. The idea is not to go bigger, but that we will get much more water from the air with a similar sized unit while further preventing CO2 losses.”
Eef Zwinkels (Royal Brinkman) and Ziv Shaked (DryGair) in the booth at the IPM
Read more about the solution here or visit DryGair on the IPM in Hall 3 in stand 3D34.
Digitelling the future
At the IPM Klasmann-Deilmann is presenting IT solutions that simplify processes between growers and substrate producers, and that bring customers added benefits. For example the company’s tracking tool shows the status of current orders and tells the user when deliveries can be expected.
Then Klasmann-Deilmann’s online platform Log & Solve allows observation and analysis of cultivation parameters (monitoring), which are used to advise on day-to-day crop management (consulting). "Log & Solve helps enhance the efficiency of cultivation methods and reduce failure rates. It does this by tracking key cultivation parameters such as nutrient levels and substrate moisture content, and by generating automated status updates for a given crop. On the basis of the data obtained, undesirable developments can be rapidly identified and averted by adjusting crop management", they explain.
Read more about the products here or meet Klasmann-Deilmann on the IPM in hall 2.0, booth 2D17.
Robotics in Horticulture
Robert Vahedi, Afshin Doust & Saeed Govahi with Advanced Intelligent Systems (AIS), a custom robotics company that creates robotic solutions for every task, but particularly to solve labor shortage problems in the horticulture industry.
AIS's BigTop is being showcased at IPM at Stand 4E37, where it is making its European debut. AIS’ mobile, autonomous robot provides nurseries and growers experiencing acute labor challenges with innovative and cost-efficient automation solutions.
A practical robot voor every task in the nursery.
Substrate mixing with renewable wood fibre
On the IPM Kekkilä Professional introduces a new product, namely Kekkilä PrimeFLOW, a substrate mixture containing renewable wood fibre. "It is produced in a way that ensures uniform mixing so that the wood fibre is properly fluffed", they show.
"This enables easy and smooth potting without oversized lumps of fibre or impurities. It offers growers a product that has good air/water balance, for a competitive price compared to perlite", they say. Kekkilä PrimeFLOW is developed and tested to improve the growing conditions for bedding plant growers, young plant growers and tree nurseries and by now is in production and ready for orders.
Nedeljko Basic, the product manager for Kekkilä PrimeFLOW says the benefits for the small pot grower are tangible. "The wood fibre in the mixture ensures reduced shrinkage and increases solids in the mix, improving physical properties. The best usage of fertilizers and water thanks to Higher EAW (Easily available water) is one of the key features of Kekkilä PrimeFLOW. It brings along specific pore size distribution which is the most important factor for the plant’s growth. Furthermore, the optimum level of capillarity forces for all types of irrigation systems makes this product available for all small pot growers.”
Read more about the PrimeFLOW here or visit Kekkilä at the IPM.