Revolutionizing Vertical Farming Systems with Film & Tape
Meeting the demands for global food production is challenging. Disruptions in the supply chain and climate issues such as rising temperatures, droughts or fires make traditional farming unpredictable.
New technologies like indoor vertical farming are revolutionizing the world of agriculture, allowing farmers to grow more with less space and be independent of harsh weather conditions. More sustainable than traditional farming, vertical farming systems utilize much less water and do not require pesticides to yield crops.
But what is a key contributor to the ever-increasing success of indoor vertical growing? The answer: LED lighting. LED lighting increases energy efficiency to promote accelerated crop growth and, with its ability for tailored light spectrum, enhances crop quality and taste. Products such as silicone and ETFE film work behind the scenes to ensure the durability, efficiency, longevity and performance of the LED lights.
For this blog, we’ve talked with Diana Buckley, Senior Project Manager for Silicone and CHR® Tapes, and Maggie Ezell, Business Development Manager, both at Saint-Gobain® Tape Solutions, to learn more about their roles and discuss how our Norseal® Silicone Product portfolio, combined with products from our newest Norgard™ line, work together to provide advanced solutions for modern-day greenhouses.
Now, let’s learn a bit more about Diana and Maggie and explore how silicone and ETFE products can help drive innovations.
Diana and Maggie, could you please share a little bit about yourself?
Diana: I have been working with Saint-Gobain for 19 years. Currently, I am the Senior Product Manager for Silicone and CHR Tapes for Tape Solutions. My focus is to support our internal teams, including Engineering and Quality, to produce and deliver more sustainable products with exceptional quality and unique properties. The goal is to meet our customer’s expectations and solve their problems.
Maggie: I have been with Saint-Gobain for 14 years, currently Business Development Manager for Tape Solutions in North America. My focus is on finding markets for our products and technologies that align with our goals for sustainable construction and energy markets, where we not only offer a product but also focus on co-development with our customers.
What you are most excited about regarding opportunities or product functionality in modern greenhouse solutions?
Diana: I’m most excited to expand the role of our Norseal Silicone Products in helping to make this new technology of indoor vertical farming more sustainable than traditional farming. Our premium gaskets can be a perfect choice for protecting your LED lighting in modern-day greenhouses, increasing their service life.
Maggie: I am most excited to explore the greenhouse market and use our technology to develop new materials for this market and help enhance vertical farming equipment to help support farmers in providing food for our growing population.
In terms of protecting LED lighting and durability, could you speak to how these products make an impact?
Diana: Norseal Silicone Gasketing Materials are a premier choice for protecting against common environmental stressors. They help to ensure a longer shelf life for LED lighting, less frequent replacement and cost savings. This is especially important in greenhouse applications where LED lighting is exposed to challenges such as extreme temperatures, moisture, UV rays, dirt and fungus growth. These lights need to be protected to ensure proper functioning and service life.
Diana, how do these products help to enhance the illumination and performance of LEDs?
Diana: Our Norseal Foams and Sponges are specifically tested for gasketing usage with specifications including UL-50 and UL 50 E, UL V-0 and JMUL2. Our proprietary post-curing process ensures our foam, rubber and SNS tape products impart low outgassing to produce less condensation. Less condensation results in better brightness and clarity of your LED.
Maggie, enhanced greenhouse service life and durability ultimately impact both cost and energy savings. How do ETFE film products help in this regard?
Maggie: Modern-day architectural design of greenhouses should not only ensure they can withstand the test of time, but also that energy savings are maximized.
Due to their light weight, resistance to wide temperature range (from -328°F to 330°F), chemical resistance, low flammability, stress crack resistance and outstanding performance in harsh weather conditions, ETFE films are ideal materials to utilize for providing external coverage to greenhouses. The superior mechanical properties of ETFE film allow for long service life and minimal aging effects.
Each of our products is specially designed for the end user. An investment in premium gasketing or ETFE film materials helps our customers meet or exceed the specifications for today’s greenhouses, ensuring building resiliency and protection from increasingly volatile environments. Now, more than ever before, products utilized must be durable, have longevity and meet the performance required for success in achieving energy-efficient, sustainable solutions.