Warwick-based RIPE Building Services Ltd (RIPE) has secured a £250k investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) West Midlands Equity Fund, managed by Midven. The funding is set to support the firm’s ground-breaking greenhouse system, which enables growers to increase output by capitalizing on full-spectrum natural daylight.
The MEIF funding will enable RIPE to begin its sales and marketing activities, where the company will demonstrate the greenhouse system in full action at the UK Natural Light Growing Centre at the University of Warwick’s Wellesbourne Campus. This will give growers and other interested parties an opportunity to get a better understanding of how changing greenhouse systems can improve their overall crop performance.
RIPE has created an advanced greenhouse structure replacing the outdated glass design with a patented nano surface treated ETFE glazing material. It utilizes lightweight, specially designed aluminum frames with patented ground anchors that eliminates the need for concrete foundations.
ETFE is a fluorine-based plastic related to teflon. It has a high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range and is not only 100% recyclable but fully reusable. At the end of its lifespan, which is typically more than 50 years in architecture, it can be melted and re-blown as exactly the same material. It requires minimal energy for transportation and installation; which means that it makes a significant contribution to the movement towards more sustainable greenhouse constructions.
This new greenhouse structure offers growers and farmers better light transmission, increased yields, and greater plant health compared to traditional glass greenhouses. Utilizing ETFE, RIPE brings sustainable improvements to global food production – enhancing growth and harvest in a natural way. ETFE can also be used in polytunnels which means the business can address all of its customers’ growth requirements.
Sean Farnell, board director at the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, says: “Creating the environment for innovation and enterprise is one of the key aims of the CWLEP’s Strategic Reset Framework and RIPE is carrying out ground-breaking work which will be extended by this funding. This Warwick business is certainly aiming to solve the critical issues facing growers to help with our green sustainable future.”
Read the complete article at www.midven.co.uk.
