Fluidra uses sprinkle irrigation in an innovative wood preservation system
October 1, 2009Through its company Irrigaronne, Fluidra supplies the necessary equipment
and technology to irrigate trees which have been felled or pulled down. This is a
very effective technique for preserving wood while in storage. This innovative
application is helping the French wood industry.
The company has already concluded contracts worth around €800,000 and is
awaiting the award of further contracts.
Fluidra, the multinational group which develops applications for sustainable water
use, has quickly responded to the latest developments in demand in the sprinkle
irrigation market, making a strong entrance into a new industry: the preservation of
wood from trees which have been felled or pulled down. The company in charge of
carrying out this activity in France is Irrigaronne, a Fluidra group company.
The rain and wind storms which hit the country in the first few months of this year left
in their wake a large number of trees which had either fallen or been pulled down,
adding up to a total volume of 138 million m 3 . This has resulted in a significant
surplus in the amount of wood available for sale in France, bringing down prices.
However, due to the difficulty in finding buyers for so much wood, it has been
necessary to put much of it in storage.
Due to its very changeable nature, it is essential that this material be properly
preserved. The most effective method for doing this is immersion and sprinkle
irrigation while in storage. Irrigaronne, which has great expertise in these techniques,
was soon found to be the most reliable bidder. It has been awarded several contracts
in bidding processes and, to date, has signed contracts worth a total of €795,000.
The installation of the irrigation equipment for this new application, which is still in
progress, shows that Fluidra is not only concerned about sustainability in the use of
water but also strives to preserve other natural resources, such as wood in this case.