[June 28, 2016] |
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Proto Labs' Cool Idea! Award Helps AgPulse 'Water Down' the Competition
With water efficiency top of mind in agriculture, new businesses are
cropping up quickly. Winning a Cool
Idea! Award and getting access to critical grant funding was able to
propel one innovative company forward, enabling them to get their
product to market quickly and efficiently.
This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160628006036/en/
The developers of AgPulse, a water-management system that uses wireless technology and the internet of things to optimize farm irrigation, have been presented with the latest Proto Labs Cool Idea! Award. (Photo: Business Wire)
California-based Mist Labs hopes to take a leading role in the
water-management segment with its new offering, AgPulse,
an internet-of-things-enabled, micro-irrigation control platform for
farms, vineyards, orchards - even backyards and gardens. gPulse employs
wireless soil sensors and data analytics to monitor ground moisture and
to water the ideal amount when the soil indicates it is necessary.
"Manual irrigation and record-keeping can cause large discrepancies in
watering," said Mist Labs CEO Matt Kresse. "AgPulse creates an immediate
opportunity for farmers to understand and conserve water usage, leading
to optimized costs and yield."
With the price of water on an upward trajectory - especially in
drought-ridden regions like Central Valley California - Mist Labs offers
a unique solution, but needed to get to market quickly to gain a
competitive foothold.
According to Kresse, the company had all the elements required to bring
AgPulse to market but needed a partner to produce the final, end-use
parts for its innovative equipment. The parts had to be custom-designed
and injection-molded, using a high-strength polycarbonate material.
The Cool Idea! Award, a service grant given to innovative companies by
quick-turn part and prototype manufacturer Proto
Labs (NYSE: PRLB), was the perfect solution. By winning the Cool
Idea! Award, Kresse and his team were able to apply the grant funding to
an initial production run of end-use parts. These included fully
functional, wireless flow meters designed to withstand the demanding
conditions of an agricultural environment. Very quickly, Mist Labs was
able to test and finalize the equipment, and launch AgPulse to the
market.
"We're scheduled to deploy a large number of units on farms in 2016,
establishing a solid customer base that will set us up for success in
the future," said Kresse. "Without winning the Cool Idea! Award, we
would not be where we are today."
With orders already rolling in, Kresse and his team are excited about
the sales pipeline and their ability to deliver products as ordered.
Units begin shipping midsummer 2016.
"Our goal with the Cool Idea! Award is to help innovative companies move
through the design-to-development process quickly - whether they need
functional prototypes, testing or low-volume production quantities,"
said Proto Labs founder Larry Lukis. "Through our software-powered 3D
printing, injection molding and CNC machining manufacturing processes,
we can help award winners create exactly what they need, when they need
it, to move their business forward."
About the Proto Labs Cool Idea! Award Offered by Proto Labs,
the world's fastest digital manufacturing source for custom prototypes
and low-volume production parts, the Cool Idea! Award helps
entrepreneurs bring innovative products to market through grants that
support product prototyping, testing and production. For more details
and to apply for a Cool Idea! Award, go to www.protolabs.com/cool-idea.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160628006036/en/
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