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Posted 27 October 2004. Applied Turfgrass Science. Conviron's New Aurora Research Greenhouse Allows Plant Scientists to Conduct Research Faster and More Precisely than Ever Before Conviron. Winnipeg, MB. (September 30, 2004) - Winnipeg-based Conviron, a world leader in the design and manufacture of controlled environment systems, today officially unveiled its new Aurora Research Greenhouse.
“Conviron is proud today to introduce the Aurora Research Greenhouse, the most innovative and highest performing research greenhouse available for the global plant science research marketplace,” said Steve Kroft, President and Chief Executive Officer of Conviron at an official product launch event at the company’s headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Aurora was developed following a three-year and nearly $2 million research and development program. It provides an unprecedented level of control of temperature, humidity, air velocity and light intensity, all engineered for plant growth and delivered as a product. “The Aurora Research Greenhouse takes the design and functionality of research greenhouses to a higher level than was previously available,” Kroft said. “Prior to embarking on this development, Conviron commissioned an extensive survey of plant researchers and facility managers at many of the world’s leading institutions. This product addresses the many shortcomings of today’s standard research greenhouse. It incorporates several product innovations that will address the requirements of the world’s leading plant scientists for accuracy, uniformity and overall performance. Until now, this level of precision has simply been unavailable in greenhouses.” Kroft said the development of the Aurora was a natural extension of the company’s expertise in designing plant growth chambers and rooms for scientists at universities, government institutions and private companies. “Conviron products are known and used extensively throughout the world for agricultural and food research, along with other life science applications such as pharmaceutical and neutraceutical testing and research. Many of our clients who use both growth chambers and greenhouses encouraged us to apply our expertise to research greenhouses,” he said. Kroft said the applications for the Aurora Greenhouse are endless. “The Aurora’s high performance level will help the life science industry assess the value of crops and new food products more efficiently by being able to replicate experiments under precise growing conditions. It allows scientists to grow plants faster and more uniformly than ever before.” Using current research greenhouse technology, researchers in hot southern climates are not able to control environmental conditions precisely. Those in the colder northern climates are limited by available natural light in winter months. The features in the Aurora Greenhouse are not only precise but can deliver year-round functionality with heating and air conditioning systems designed specifically for plant growth in any climate. Researchers Conviron consulted also noted that current research greenhouse technology was not fulfilling their needs and that procuring a research greenhouse was difficult. “Our team of experts designed a product that would address the shortcomings in the current research greenhouse marketplace, while also anticipating future requirements such as high level containment,” Kroft noted. He also states “science is changing at an incredible rate, and with the Aurora Research Greenhouse, Conviron is confident the equipment will now keep pace.”
The Aurora Research Greenhouse provides customers with a single source for consultation, product design, manufacturing, installation and ongoing customer support. “The Aurora Greenhouse, while offering substantial technical innovation, also gives users, facility personnel and architects a new way to purchase a research greenhouse. In the past, a researcher or procurer had to deal with multiple consultants and building trades, who often had no specific experience designing and installing a research greenhouse. This multi-layered approach was frustrating and cumbersome, and often ended with a lot of finger pointing.” Kroft said. “ Now customers can benefit from a single point of contact for the design and installation of their research greenhouse. This will not only remove the frustrations involved in the specification and construction process, but also provide a superior performing research greenhouse with the added comfort of cost certainty.” The first installation of Aurora Research Greenhouses is taking place at Penn State University as other customers are being introduced to the new product.
Contact: Steve Kroft President & CEO 204-786-6451 (ext. 263)
Jim Chess – Media Relations 204-949-0044
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