“If you could get the led lights into the system then it would be tight and you would be risking a fire because the lights would be too close to the plants. Your product and profits would, literally, go up in smoke and so would your building too.”
Looking for a vertical hydroponic system for sale can be frustrating. We get it. It is frustrating because most of the products you get with a search like that are consumer-level products. They are meant for a beginning grower who may have eyes bigger than what their business acumen can handle at that point. However, that is probably not you because you are an experienced grower who has a pretty good idea of what they need and want.
Truth? You have lighting and other pieces of equipment that are much larger than the shelving units they show you on online retailer sites like Amazon. If you could get the led lights into the system then it would be tight and you would be risking a fire because the lights would be too close to the plants. Your product and profits would, literally, go up in smoke and so would your building too. Your landlord, assuming you are renting a spot, would not like that either. Therefore, if you are looking to compete with the big boys in your marketplace then you probably want to upgrade to industrial level gear that will allow you to compete with them.
“If it still fails after that then you will have to modify the shelving unit. All in all, it could end up costing you more than getting a vertical growing rack with seismic calculations already supplied.”
If there are no good vertical hydroponics systems for sale then you are going to have to design and build it yourself. You might be able to find the ballasts, led lights, and other materials you might need pretty quickly but you will not find the vertical growing racks you need very easily. The reason that is a two-fold answer. The first problem is that the industry is focused on the low-end grower or beginner. There are a lot more of them entering the market than there are staying in the market. They are focusing, time, money, and R and D into producing and selling products that sell to that market. The second reason is that most of your grow shops or gardening shops are not in the material handling industry. They are in the retail industry for the most part. They are not going to know the ins and outs of permitting and other small factors that make pallet racks or industrial storage systems, which is what professional growers use, viable for growth in your industry.
If you are growing legally, and we recommend that you do, then you are going to have to adhere to standards set forth by your local government. Unfortunately, your local grow shop and most of the businesses making consumer-level products do not have to deal with the local government for businesses as large as yours. They do not have the experience and know the rules and regulations having due with permitting issues for your new vertical growing rack being turned into a hydroponic system. You will have to procure help from the company that does have experience and that is, hopefully, the one who is selling you the pallet rack.
“The first problem is that the industry is focused on the low-end grower or beginner. There are a lot more of them entering the market than there are staying in the market. They are focusing, time, money, and R and D into producing and selling products that sell to that market.”
We say hopefully because not every local government has rules and regulations pertaining to seismic activity. If they do not have that natively to their area then the rack they sell probably will not have it either. They will also, likely, lack the knowledge of what the permitting process looks like in areas where it does matter. If you are in an area that does matter then this is critical. If you manage to pick up a pallet rack that lacks seismic testing and/or calculations then you will have to pay to get the seismic calculations it needs. If it still fails after that then you will have to modify the shelving unit. All in all, it could end up costing you more than getting a vertical growing rack with seismic calculations already supplied. If you are going to get one, new or used, then you should ask if this is supplied and have someone check if it fits the requirements of your local government before you purchase it.
Want a vertical grow rack that can be the base of your vertical hydroponic system? Click that link and have a look at the product. You can also call us at 503-564-4064 and get more information if you need it.
