Food cultivation on a new level

From compact greenhouses to indoor farms

The Romanian start-up Ultragreens wants to use vertical farming to make regionally grown food available everywhere. © Ultragreens

The Romanian company Ultragreens is a pioneer in this field. Founded in 2014, the start-up has set itself the task of making regionally grown food available everywhere. To achieve this, it relies on compact greenhouses that can be placed directly in supermarket branches, for example. Ultragreens also plans and implements so-called green hubs, i.e. huge vertical indoor farms that are operated by nationwide wholesale and retail chains, for example. In order to save on transport costs and improve the environmental footprint, the green hubs are often located in close proximity to the food retailers' logistics centers.

High degree of automation increases efficiency

The "Green Hubs" from Ultragreens are ultra-modern and fully automated. © Ultragreens

Several Green Hubs are already operating successfully in Romania, and the company recently announced its entry into the Bulgarian market. The facilities are state-of-the-art and fully automated: The plants grow under precisely calibrated LED light and without soil in so-called hydroponics, where they are supplied with all the necessary nutrients through special substrates. Irrigation, ventilation, temperature and many other factors are precisely regulated by computer and continuously monitored using comprehensive sensor technology. If a limit value is exceeded or not reached, the system automatically readjusts itself so that optimum growing conditions always prevail.

Control and data cables from Helukabel

"The comprehensive technical equipment with sensors, control and monitoring systems is of course essential for the operation of our vertical farms," explains Tudor. "On the other hand, this also means that malfunctions or failures of individual components can affect the entire harvest." To avoid this, Ultragreens only equips its systems with high-quality, reliable components that have been extensively tested beforehand. The company has relied on Helukabel for the cabling right from the start: the specialist in electrical connection technology supplies the connection, control and data cables required to operate the vertical greenhouses. Proven solutions such as the JZ-500 and JZ-600 cable types, the H07V-K single cores and the Tronic-CY data cable are used here.

Resistant to moisture

"For us, Helukabel is more than just a supplier, but a partner for the joint development of our product portfolio." Cristian Tudor, CEO, Ultragreens. © Ultragreens

"Quality was the most important criterion for us when selecting our suppliers," reports Cristian Tudor. "Helukabel was recommended to us by one of our technical service partners - and met our high expectations in every respect." The team at Helukabel Romania, led by Managing Director Ionut Nica, took a close look at the demanding application and selected the optimum solutions for the special operating environment. "The cables used must be resistant to moisture in particular, and they must also be flexible enough to allow flexible installation even in tight spaces," explains Nica.

Those responsible at Ultragreens are pleased to have Helukabel as a competent contact partner directly in their own country, who always responds quickly and purposefully to inquiries. All cables supplied are also certified in accordance with all standards and regulations applicable to the local market. Further projects are being planned - for example, the largest vertical greenhouse in Europe to date with a cultivation area of 6,500 square meters on twelve levels. "Our aim is to play a key role in shaping this new type of agriculture," emphasizes Cristian Tudor.