The power of innovation: three technologies in the spotlight
“VertiFarm 2024 in Dortmund was a fantastic, specialized event where we were able to have very targeted conversations with visitors who were genuinely focused on making the most of their vertical farms,” says Rob Leek, Director at Airlux Technologies. “We connected with people who were incredibly direct and specific, and it really felt like a community of like-minded individuals. Despite being a relatively small event, we met a lot of interesting potential partners and even came away with a number of concrete projects that we can start working on immediately.
Significant attention from specialized media.
“There was also significant attention from specialised media. Vertical Farm Daily published a great article about us, which immediately led to discussions on LinkedIn. In addition, I was interviewed by Horti Biz Radio, which also sparked some interesting responses. And to top it all off, we were awarded the prize for the best stand at the show. It was brilliant to see how our bright, eye-catching stand was attracting a lot of attention” he adds. “But, of course, it was our lineup of products that really stood out.”
The power of innovation: three technologies in the spotlight
During VertiFarm, Airlux Technologies showcased three technological innovations that are perfectly suited to the needs of vertical farming:
VertiLed – Custom lighting for vertical farming
The VertiLed solution, a custom lighting system for vertical farming, attracted a great deal of attention due to its flexibility.
“Visitors were impressed with the product. They saw the fixtures, were impressed but sometimes assumed the dimensions were fixed, but we were able to explain that everything is customisable to fit their specific growing space,” explains Leek. “We also highlighted the benefits of water cooling, which removes heat directly from the source, meaning there’s much less need to cool the growing environment. Also, the a-symmetric design of the secondary optics which leads to the best light uniformity was appealing. A combination that led many to conclude that VertiLed is significantly ahead of the competition.”
Revomax – Inverter-based HVAC solution
Airlux Technologies’ Revomax HVAC system offers advanced climate control, managing both temperature and humidity simultaneously. This makes it a perfect complement to the VertiLed solution.
“For many visitors, it was a real eye-opener to learn that our system not only delivers the best growing results but also reduces energy costs by up to 20%. With the profitability of vertical farms being such a hot topic right now, this really resonated with people. Combined with the fact that we offer an off-the-shelf product, not a custom solution, which makes our technology much more accessible. We provide the same, if not better, quality than much more expensive highly custom made systems, and you can get the products more quickly. That’s another huge advantage of our technology.”
Xtreme MKII with ioniser
The Xtreme MKII lighting fixture, fitted with an integrated ioniser, was particularly appealing to medicinal cannabis companies:
“The integrated ioniser really captured people’s imaginations. The fact that we have the highest performance on the market, with an efficacy up to 3.5 μmol/J, combined with the innovative ioniser, made a big impact,” says Rob. “People saw this as the next standard in the market and were eager to learn more about the product as they could immediately see the impact it could have. Those were some very interesting conversations.”
Looking to the future: more visibility and growth
“At VertiFarm, it became clear to us that our technology makes a real difference across all types of growing environments, whether small or large. The ability to perfectly tailor both lighting and climate control to the specific requirements of vertical farming is what really sets us apart. With systems like Revomax, which can manage both temperature and humidity simultaneously, and our VertiLed solution with integrated water cooling, we can reduce energy costs by up to 20% without compromising on growth results.
In various projects, we’ve already demonstrated that our solutions can drastically cut energy costs while still delivering excellent growth outcomes. This is exactly the type of solution needed to support the development and scaling of vertical farming. That will be our message in the time to come as we increase our footprint in the market and continue to emphasize the excellence of our products.”
Listen to Rob’s interview on Hortibiz Radio on: Spotify
Would you like to learn more about our products or how we can support large-scale projects with our extensive experience and expertise? Please contact us to schedule an appointment.