Specialty Fabrics Review November 2022 - 30

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products is decreasing. And with the
government tightening water usage
and fumigation regulations in the
agriculture industry, finding ways to
do more with less is a priority. "
Headquartered in Sioux Falls,
S.D., Viaflex (formerly Raven
Engineered Film) offers liners, films
and geomembranes for a variety of
applications including agriculture,
construction, environmental and
industrial. Among these are the
VaporSafe® and the VaporSafe RM
BOOST™, seven-layer, co-extruded
barrier films made from very flexible,
high-strength polyethylene with an
inner core of gas-impermeable ethylene
vinyl alcohol (EVOH) barrier resin.
" [Both] are laid on the ground
and anchored down, " Tesch explains.
" There are two driplines installed
at the point of installation on the
underside of the VaporSafe BOOST
barrier. These driplines are used to
apply pesticides and fertilizer.
" The differences between VaporSafe
and VaporSafe BOOST is that [the
latter] was designed and developed
to be used as a fumigation barrier, " he
continues. " VaporSafe was designed as
a weed retardant/barrier, without the
use of pesticides. "
Tesch describes these products as
totally impermeable films (TIF), saying
the need for such solutions has become
more acute as government regulations
have tightened and as the industry
steps away from fumigants like methyl
bromide for controlling weeds, pests
and diseases.
According to Tesch, VaporSafe
This drone shot shows
multiple field sections
covered with the VaporSafe®
RM BOOST™
a fumigation
barrier film from Viaflex.
The seven-layer, coextruded
film is made from
very flexible, high-strength
polyethylene and is designed
to help farmers/growers
meet the ever-tightening
fumigation regulations.
Photo: Viaflex
BOOST is used primarily in California
because of that state's very strict
fumigation regulations. Still, demand
for barrier-type products is on the
upswing across the country.
" All regions are feeling the effects
EPA regulations mandating the distance between fumigation
zones and water zones have accelerated the demand for
barrier films. Shown here is a strawberry field with the
VaporSafe®
RM BOOST™
from Viaflex. Two driplines installed
on the underside of the barrier deliver pesticides and
fertilizer. Photo: Viaflex
30 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / November 2022
of water supply shortages and the
ever-increasing efforts to keep water
sources clean from pesticides, " he
explains. " Every farmer and grower is
looking for ways to increase their crop
growth while decreasing the impact
made on the soil and water quality. The
continued development of [barrier]
films will help enable the agriculture
industry to grow more with less. "
Pamela Mills-Senn is a Seal Beach, Calif.-based
freelance writer.
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Specialty Fabrics Review November 2022

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