Catalytic Generators looks to Europe with Easy-Ripe®, Ethy-Gen II, and SmartRipe®

Catalytic Generators is a family-owned company with more than 50 years of experience dedicated exclusively to ethylene application systems for ripening and degreening. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, and with a global presence, the company supplies solutions for fresh produce operators, distribution centers, and growers working with products such as avocados, bananas, tomatoes, and other crops sensitive to this process. At a time when the company is advancing the registration of Ethy-Gen II in several European countries and strengthening its presence in this market, Easy-Ripe®, Ethy-Gen II, and SmartRipe® stand out among its main lines of work.

At Postharvest.biz, we spoke with Greg Akins, President and CEO of Catalytic Generators, to learn which aspects of the company’s solutions are most valued by customers, the current status of its expansion in Europe, and the innovations it will present at Macfrut.

Postharvest.biz: The main characteristic of Catalytic Generators’ offering is a simple, cost-effective, scalable, and safe system for the ripening of bananas, avocados, and other commodities, as well as for the degreening of citrus fruit. Which aspects of CG’s solutions do users value the most?

Greg Akins: Our solution for applying ethylene in fruit ripening rooms is deliberately designed to be simple. Users value the ability to pour in one liter of our Ethy-Gen® II concentrate and know that the proper amount of ethylene will be generated in the room for a 24-hour application. Once they determine what setting produces the proper amount for their room, the system works with a "set it and forget it" approach. The Easy-Ripe® generator provides repeatable and reliable operation when it comes to ripening.

Customers also appreciate the fact that it is very easy to verify the proper application of ethylene: the Ethy-Gen II "disappears", and that is it. After 24 hours, the liquid has been converted into ethylene, as shown by the empty reservoir in the generator.

Users also value that our technology allows ripening operations to be efficient and adaptable, without complicated technical challenges. If a ripener wants to move a generator to another room, it can be done easily because the equipment is lightweight and portable. At the same time, it is robust and can handle ripening rooms of more than 400 m³. In this way, customers can choose to have one generator in each ripening room or work more efficiently with fewer generators and move them between rooms whenever ethylene needs to be applied.

Greg Akins, President and CEO of Catalytic Generators

PH: Your customers are located all over the world and, in Europe, registration is currently underway in some countries. What is the current situation?

GA: We are actively working in several key European Union countries to obtain certification and registration for Ethy-Gen II, collaborating with regulators to finalize the dossiers. It is a long and demanding process, but we believe it is well worth the investment. In addition, we have recently applied for approval of Ethy-Gen II for use on avocados, persimmons, and citrus fruit in some European countries.

PH: Once the registrations are obtained, what will your growth strategy in Europe be?

GA: We have several established distributors in key areas of Europe. All of them have sufficient stock of Easy-Ripe generators and Ethy-Gen II concentrate to support any ripening company, large or small.

Our distribution team also provides local support for everything related to our products. However, that does not mean that we are not directly involved. Our team remains in very close contact with customers around the world, visits them frequently, and is ready to assist with ethylene application at any time.

PH: The company will be present at Macfrut, which takes place at the end of April and mainly brings together companies from the Mediterranean Basin. Which solutions will be presented there?

GA: Yes, we will be at Macfrut, 21-23 April, in Rimini, Hall B3, Stand 077. At the exhibition, we will present our core products, Easy-Ripe generators and Ethy-Gen II concentrate.

We will also share updates on our new SmartRipe® system, a wireless remote monitoring solution for ethylene application. This technology will allow our customers to receive real-time data from our generators and from the ripening process, including the status and completion of ethylene application.

We will be there with the team from our US headquarters, together with our Italian distributor, so we invite industry professionals to contact us and visit us so that we can explain in detail how our solutions can make ripening simpler, safer, and more efficient.

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