Vertical farming is a hot trend in agriculture. This involves growing plants in several tiers above one another – in other words, vertically. Instead of soil, rain and sunlight, there are nutrient solutions and LED lamps. This is why vertical farming works indoors and within buildings, even with limited space.
The concept may well be used in large cities in the future to supply people with fresh fruit and vegetables. ebm‑papst wants to be part of this future. After all, among other things, vertical farming requires pumps, gearboxes and fans. This is how Jessica from product management Compact Air Technology in St. Georgen came up with the idea of offering the indoor farm as a project for apprentices.
"We can tell customers a lot about our vertical farming products. But showing them works better! The project also has a great educational effect for our apprentices as well as the departments in which the individual products are developed."
Jessica, Product Manager Compact Air Technology
The apprentices spent weeks working on various questions: Which nutrients are needed in the liquid that the plants feed on? And how much fresh air needs to be introduced into the box? Products from St. Georgen were then used in the construction of the indoor farm in 2022. Four AxiRev 126 compact fans provide the optimum air. In addition, a BCI geared motor drives a pump that distributes the nutrient solution.
For apprentices Hannes, David, Mikail and Michael (from the left), weeks of puzzling it out have paid off: their indoor farm works!
The indoor farm is currently located in the company restaurant on site in St. Georgen where it always provides hungry employees with fresh salad and herbs.
However, it has also been exhibited at trade fairs such as the JOBS FOR FUTURE trade fair in Villingen-Schwenningen. It showcases the ebm‑papst skills in the field of vertical farming to a wide audience. And there is a great deal of interest. In Singapore, for example, ebm‑papst is already implementing specific vertical farming projects. The city state has little space for vegetable or fruit plantations. This makes the idea of letting them grow into the sky, just like the residential towers, enormously attractive.
In the meantime, it is not only the development of vertical farming that has come a long way. Our four apprentices are also making significant progress in their careers. Hannes, David and Mikail are in the third year of their apprenticeship. Hannes, a soon-to-be electronics technician, has already taken up a position in development. David, also an electronics technician, is currently completing his operational training. As a future mechatronics technician, Mikail has chosen to focus on industrial engineering during the operational training. Michael was able to shorten his electronics apprenticeship, secured a scholarship thanks to his exceptional performance - including in the Vertical Farm project - and will start his university studies in October 2023.