Ecologel Solutions LLC., a premier developer and manufacturer of innovative products for plant science and water conservation, announced AquaGain Ltd. as the exclusive distributor for Hydretain® products in the UK, Channel Islands, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Hydretain is a unique water management technology that has, through university and independent trials, proven to reduce overall watering requirements for ornamental plants, shrubs, trees, turf, and agriculture by as much as 50% or more.
AquaGain Ltd. was formed in the spring of 2019 with the objective of becoming the leading moisture management business for retail and commercial applications in the UK, the Channel Islands, Ireland and the Isle of Man. To achieve this goal, they stated that it was essential to partner with Ecologel Solutions LLC., a global leader in the manufacture of environmentally sound horticultural solutions.
“After taking the time to familiarise myself with the advantages and versatility of Hydretain®, I called Rick Irwin at Ecologel Solutions, which opened up channels to large volumes of amazingly valuable marketing and research information, and testimony to the rapid and successful growth in the USA said AquaGain co-founder Peter Clark. “It was a ‘no brainer’ decision to set up a UK company with my colleague, Andy Somers, who has 30+ years sales experience, and who is also looking forward to working with Ecologel to gain a better understanding of Hydretain® and the varied needs of the turf, crop, and plant growers.”
“We are excited about this opportunity with AquaGain Ltd. to expand our distribution in the UK and to bring the many benefits of Hydretain® to the marketplace. We look forward to partnering with them to unleash a unique and highly successful product to an untapped market,” said Ecologel President, Rick Irwin. “We also value the experience the company’s co-founders, Peter Clark and Andy Somers bring with them.”
Peter Clark is a third-generation horticulturist, who first encountered Hydretain several years ago when working with a major horticultural mail order business. He was seeking a more environmentally safe product to replace water-absorbing polymers in hanging baskets and containers, with the objective of safely making plants last longer without water; a critical gardening and growing issue. Hydretain manages soil moisture between watering cycles and/or rainfall, reduces drought stress, and provides many other benefits such as, increased seed germination, enhanced nutrient and pesticide efficiency, sod establishment, extended flower life and maximized crop production.
Ecologel and AquaGain’s initial target market will be UK golf courses, of which there are approximately 2,500 and they plan to extend their reach to cricket, tennis, rugby, football, schools, race courses, nursery/garden centers and commercial turf care operatives. They feel that the timing is right for AquaGain with well documented global water supply problems, as well as documented global warming, and the 2018 UK drought fresh in everyone’s memory.
The initial agreement is for the Hydretain range of water conservation products, but as they grow, AquaGain plans to extend their range to include Ecologel’s nutrient supplements, dust control, pond management, and other unique technologies. Although Hydretain was not previously available for distribution in the UK, it is REACH compliant in both granular and liquid forms.
“Hydretain is the ideal solution for those who need to improve watering efficiency, reduce labor costs, or improve landscape quality while conserving water,” said Irwin. “The goal,” added Clark and Somers “is to promote the use of existing skills and labor with an extremely simple to use the product. We aim to reduce the number of canceled sports fixtures and transform the look and yield of flowers, plants, and crops.
Furthermore, we hope to reduce watering bills by 50% within one billing period, not to mention inevitable labor gains.”
About Ecologel:
Ecologel Solutions LLC is a long-standing, premier developer and manufacturer of innovative products for water conservation, dust mitigation, plant nutrition, pond and lake management, and protective barrier treatments. In 2018 Ecologel partnered with Arborjet, Inc. to offer an expanded lineup of environmentally responsible plant healthcare products that broaden the expert resources they provide.
Arborjet is the leading plant health care company focused on providing the most effective formulations and delivery systems to protect trees, shrubs, and plants from a wide variety of insects, diseases, and nutritional concerns.
Together, both companies are backed by years of research and provide the most effective and environmentally responsible treatment options available anywhere. As premier solutions providers, they are committed to advancing the industries they serve through thought leadership, product and technology development, scientific research, and exceptional customer service.
