Building materials supplier Trumod has designed an innovative greenhouse, which has been constructed and developed as a light steel frame (LSF) indoor cultivating warehouse structure used for growing microgreens or hemp products, such as cannabis, in a controlled environment.

“As a specialist in the design and supply of alternative building products to the construction industry in South Africa and Africa, Trumod uses intelligent SCOTTSDALE and FRAMECAD integrated computer-aided design software to make the process of engineering, designing and detailing every project fast, simple and highly accurate,” explains Trumod key account manager Curt Sommer.

This software integrates with the extensive range of roll-forming machines, which, in turn, produce thin-gauge, cold rolled engineered steel sections effortlessly, he adds.

The green warehouse LSF structure comprises light-gauge steel columns, wall frame panels, trusses, purlins and ceiling battens. Widespan profile steel sheeting encloses the frame structure as side cladding and also forms the roof covering.

The warehouse can be used as a hydroponic growing facility, warehouse, farm shed, mini factory, school hall, church, community centre, an agricultural market, storage facility and even an office space, says Sommer.

He adds that the structure has also been tried and tested in Lesotho and was successfully installed in January 2022, where licences for the growing of cannabis have been available for some time.

Benefits

The pre-manufactured green warehouse is cost-effective and supplied in kit form, with numbered parts.

The LSF sections are optimised, flat-packed and assembled on site. All the components are packed sequentially for convenience, along with clear and detailed instructions, making it that much easier for even the most modest of contractors to set up, adds Sommer.

It is, therefore, not only easy to assemble, with no cranes or jigs required, but also lighter than thicker-gauge steel, he says.

The 400 m2 green warehouses can fit into a 12 m container, to be shipped anywhere globally, he adds.

Moreover, the design of the warehouse can incorporate different materials to ensure that factors such as required temperature can be achieved.

“This ensures that all temperature specifications required for efficient production of the crop are ensured, such as the implementation of heating and air conditioning

systems,” says Sommer.

Tanslucent sheeting can be used, either for side cladding and/or roof cladding, to attract the desired amount of natural light and, thus, the temperature required to produce the crops.

“With quick assembly and an insulated internal environment, it is clear to see that the green warehouse is the warehousing solution that will allow for the roll-out of structures required for cultivating and growing cannabis and similar products faster, easier and more controlled.”