Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, has announced plans to collaborate with Fork Farms, an agriculture technology startup company, to build a highly automated, indoor 680 m2 (7,300 ft2) hydroponic vertical farm within Rockwell’s global headquarters by summer of 2024.
Hydroponic farming is a technique used to grow plants without soil. Instead of planting crops in the ground, hydroponic farmers use containers filled with nutrient-rich water, negating the need for large plots of land.
“We’re partnering across our industry and within communities to create sustainable impact and change,” said Rockwell Chairman and CEO Blake Moret. “Clock Tower Farms will engage employees and the community while serving as a showcase for manufacturers spanning diverse industries who want to see sustainable solutions in action. We look forward to sharing more details next summer upon the project’s completion.”
Once fully operational, Clock Tower Farms, named in recognition of the iconic Allen Bradley four-sided clock atop the company’s headquarters, will be capable of producing 540,000 plants and as much as 67,600 kg (149,000 lb) of food annually — the equivalent of more than three acres of conventional farmland. The first-of-its-kind facility will be housed on the 4th floor of Rockwell’s headquarters, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
New technology developed by Fork Farms, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, will provide highly localized HVAC, power, dehumidification, and water handling, which enables crops with varying environmental needs to grow properly in the same growing area at the same time. Fork Farms will use Rockwell Automation technologies to monitor and automatically adjust nutrient, pH, and water levels based on the crops being grown.
More than 70 Fork Farms “Flex Acres” will be installed in the facility. The Flex Acre is a hydroponic system that utilizes nutrient-infused, recirculated water to nourish plant roots and optimize growth. Each Flex Acre is a 2.75 m high x 2.75 m long x 0.9 m wide (9 x 9 x 3 ft) growing system capable of producing 45+ kg (100+ lb) of leafy greens and other vegetables every month.
