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“Our new gutter is more than a carrier of plants”
HAWE’s new AIR gutter integrates airflow, integration and routing

HAWE Cultivation Systems has launched a new open NFT gutter for leafy greens production. The new "AIR Gutter" is designed for mobile gutter systems and combines airflow management, irrigation and transport functions within a single profile. Jelmer Huizing, commercial manager, explains the development is aimed at integrating growing-related functions into the gutter itself rather than using the channel only as a carrier for plants and nutrient solution, hence the name AIR. "AIR stands for airflow, irrigation and routing, three of the main principles integrated in the design."

The new profile, which has been tested extensively and is currently being installed in the first projects, is intended for high-density production and contains two planting rows. A third irrigation channel has been added between the rows to maintain moisture levels over the full length of the gutter. This ensures consistency even when the length of the gutter is increased, a request from a market for what increasingly larger facilities are being launched.

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The gutter has a width of seven centimeters and was designed to fit existing mobile gutter systems. Two crop rows can be seeded in a staggered pattern, while the lower section of the profile provides the transport function required in mobile systems. 

Better Oxygen Uptake
The design separates the root zone from the substrate to improve oxygen availability. "By separating the root zone from the substrate, we allow better oxygen uptake. The roots need to grow towards the nutrients and oxygen instead of remaining inside the dense substrate," Jelmer explains.

The profile uses fins inspired by aerodynamic wing elements to direct airflow through the crop canopy. "Instead of air moving mainly around the crop, the design aims to force air through the leaves. Air is supplied from below the gutters and redirected by the shape of the profile to create turbulence. This way, we are really forcing air to go through the canopy."

Active Climate Concepts
Jelmer explains the development builds on principles used in active climate concepts. "Because you have air between every gutter, you're creating movement around the crop and boosting the cycle, which allows more year-round production." He adds that the seven-centimeter width represented a balance between crop density and airflow distribution. Rather than introducing airflow to every individual channel, air supplied from underneath is redirected by the profile geometry to reach both crop rows.

Mobile Gutter Solutions
The AIR Gutter is part of HAWE's mobile gutter solutions for NFT cultivation. The company, which also supplies mobile container systems for young plants and pea shoots, as well as ebb-and-flow table systems, was founded in 1958 and became part of KUBO Group in 2022.  Together, they develop complete solutions for indoor, vertical and multilayer growing facilities, with the design approach based o phase-controlled growing, centralisation of workflows and adapting systems to crop and project requirements. Jelmer adds system design starts with the crop and production process rather than the technology itself. "It's never a one-size-fits-all. We start from the crop first. What do you want to grow, how do you want to work, and what is your process? Technology comes last. It's only a means to a goal." 

Article by Hortidaily