037 - Engineering Innovation in Vertical Farming: Pipp’s Modular Revolution with Del Rockwell

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This episode dives into the evolution of product development at Pipp Horticulture, featuring guest Del Rockwell. The discussion highlights Del’s journey at Pipp, the engineering challenges and innovations in vertical farming solutions, and the launch of the new modular carriage system. The hosts explore Del’s contributions to the horticulture division, including how customer feedback, engineering excellence, and cross-industry insights shape product design.

Key Points Discussed:

1. Del Rockwell’s Background:

◦ Transitioned from traditional engineering to horticulture-focused product development at Pipp.

◦ Enthusiasm for joining Pipp during its pivot to the cannabis industry, describing it as a “dream opportunity.”

◦ Emphasis on user-centered design and integrating customer feedback into product innovation.

2. Product Development Process:

◦ Explained the iterative nature of product design, starting from identifying customer challenges.

◦ The role of modularity in the new carriage system, allowing easier shipping, installation, and flexibility for customers.

◦ Rigorous testing, including cycling over 3,000 times with more than 5,000 pounds to ensure reliability.

3. Features of the Modular Carriage System:

◦ A shift from aluminum carriages to a modular skate-based system, resulting in:

▪ Lower shipping costs.

▪ Improved ergonomics for growers.

▪ Better airflow and easier cleaning, contributing to pest and pathogen management.

◦ Enhanced design aesthetics and elimination of potential failure points.

4. Collaboration with Grow Glide:

◦ Leveraging insights from the Grow Glide acquisition to merge the best features of both systems.

◦ Examples include relocating the drive box for better usability and refining structural components for enhanced functionality.

5. Industry Insights:

◦ Challenges of balancing cost and functionality for both cannabis and leafy green markets.

◦ Importance of longevity in vendor relationships, with Pipp’s 50-year history providing stability in a volatile industry.

6. Del’s Philosophy on Engineering and Product Management:

◦ Focus on solving root causes rather than surface-level problems.

◦ The importance of humility, curiosity, and collaboration in product design.

◦ Emphasis on understanding customer perspectives to deliver practical and innovative solutions.

7. Future of Vertical Farming:

◦ Anticipation of more specialized products tailored to diverse crop types.

◦ Continued efforts to balance costs and ROI for growers, especially in non-cannabis markets.

◦ Excitement around emerging technologies like robo-forming and advanced manufacturing techniques.

8. Team and Company Culture:

◦ Pipp’s customer-centric approach and small-team feel despite its corporate capabilities.

◦ A collaborative and iterative product development culture that integrates feedback from both engineers and growers.

9. Del’s Legacy Projects:

◦ Pride in developing the Elevate Deck, which significantly improved labor efficiency for multi-tier systems.

◦ Validation from industry imitation, seen as flattery for Pipp’s successful designs.

Closing Notes:

The episode wraps up with a nod to Pipp’s leadership and Del’s role in fostering innovation. Listeners are encouraged to connect with Del at trade shows like MJ BizCon to discuss engineering, racking systems, and vertical farming trends. The hosts promise more updates on Pipp’s product developments in future episodes.

This episode underscores Pipp Horticulture’s commitment to advancing vertical farming technologies and their collaborative approach to solving grower...