On the IAGLA FB site Andre @ Apache Tech had greenlighted a side by side with amongst others an Inda-Gro Pro-420 with Pontoon. Robert Becker is the AT engineer that had to ultimately give final blessings and he declined. Here is his letter citing his reasons that was posted on the IAGLA FB page basically stating that he doesn't need to run a side by side with the any of the lights listed including the IG since he already knows he'll 'significantly outperform it'.
Darryl,
Thanks for the offer, but we will pass. We have done this type of thing with several other growers/testers in the past and we really don't need to go down this path again. Our lights significantly outperform any of the lights you listed. While your testing would be good advertising for us, the people you are reaching are really not in our market. Our sales are typically to government facilities (NASA, EPA, USDA, etc...), educational and research institutions (Stanford, Ohio State, Carnegie Institution for the Sciences, etc...), museums and public aquaria (Monterey Bay aquarium, California Academy of Sciences, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, National Aquarium of Brasil, etc...), and Commercial crop and plant production (DuPont, Pioneer, Bachmann's, etc...).
While we understand the medicinal market (and we have a light specifically designed for this crop), especially in Colorado, Washington and upcoming in Alaska and Oregon and we do not shy away from it, and we are working with some of the largest growers in those states. Our business model is not looking to sell to the customer who wants to purchase 1-10 lights (however, we never turn those customers away, if they are interested in our lights we will sell one light at a time), our plan is directed toward the 100 lights plus purchase, and frankly comparing one light side by side to another is irrelevant to these organizations.
Maybe some time in the future we will put product and monies directed toward these consumers, but right now we can not keep up with demand for lights in our segment of the marketplace.
Good luck with your testing and I look forward to seeing your test facility and results as you get them! Again best of luck!
Robert Becker, CTO
Apache Tech LEDs Inc.
1-408-796-8755
1-888-727-2243
[email protected]
http://www.apachetechinc.com
Skype: robertbecker.LEDs
Well there you have it.