Orbia's precision agriculture business Netafim releases Hybrid Dripline system

Precision irrigation technology company Netafim has released its patented Hybrid Dripline system, which the company says is the first and only integral dripline with a built-in outlet.

The system addresses common challenges associated with precision, including clogging, water drop migration and complex installation processes; reduces maintenance demands; and optimizes water distribution.

The proprietary technology brings together the benefits of integral and on-line dripper systems into a unified leak-free, clog-resistant and labor-saving solution for designed for vineyards, orchards and greenhouses  around the world.

The system from Netafim, the precision agriculture business of global company Orbia, simplifies irrigation operations with a pre-assembled outlet that eliminates some of the most labor-intensive tasks of greenhouse crop, orchard and vineyard care, like the need for manual hole-punching or fitting migration rings by maintaining a fixed dropping point, to accommodate different tree growth stages.

Initially launched within the UniRam dripline range, Hybrid Dripline technology will soon be expanded across Orbia Netafim’s Heavy Wall Driplines portfolio.

“The Hybrid Dripline comes after years of development and represents an exciting leap forward in precision irrigation technology,” said Abed Masarwa, VP of products at Orbia Precision Agriculture (Netafim). ”This innovation saves farmers time, labor and resources while delivering superior irrigation results. By integrating two distinct systems into one seamless solution, we are proud to be redefining efficiency, reliability and performance for growers, helping them achieve optimal yields even with challenging water quality.”

The uniqueness of the Hybrid Dripline lies in its built-in outlet, which allows an in-line dripline to function with the efficiency and adaptability of an on-line system, ensuring consistent water distribution.

In vineyards, the built-in outlets eliminate the need for the manual placement of migration rings by preventing water drop migration and keeping the dropping point fixed. For orchards, the outlets can be easily adjusted — plugged or unplugged — to accommodate different tree growth stages. In greenhouses and protected crops, the design enables seamless connection to irrigation emitters like NetBow and drop leading stakes for substrates, simplifying operations and reducing labor requirements.

“Managing precision irrigation across vineyards has become increasingly difficult due to the current labor challenges,” said Tavo Acosta, a vineyard grower from Los Alamos, California. “Orbia Netafim’s Hybrid Dripline has provided a substantial savings over utilizing the traditional tubing and button dripper installation. This new process delivers the same drip pattern that is required on sloped ground while achieving a substantial labor savings. This saves us countless hours due to the ease of deployment and installation with one pass down the vine row.”

With its integrated dripper featuring clogging resistance, the Hybrid Dripline provides a solution for growers using low-quality water sources, ensuring consistent and uniform performance across all conditions.

Orbia Netafim plans to roll out its Hybrid technology across its entire Heavy Wall Dripline portfolio

Netafim is also launching a new Irrigation as a Service (IaaS) program, which the company said eliminates capital expenditure for irrigation in favor of a manageable monthly operational expense.

The new IaaS program includes three different subscription options designed to support investors and growers alike by harnessing cost-saving drip irrigation solutions without the heavy upfront investment.