AGS: Thriving in a new era of innovation and adaptation

By James Nicklen

Australian Growing Solutions (AGS) is a renowned player in the horticulture industry, backed by over 50 years of experience. Originally established as Debco, a producer and marketer of organic manures, AGS gained recognition in the early 1980s for their development of a superior potting mix that surpassed others available in the market. Today, AGS is an industry leader with world-class operations and a strong focus on delivering consistent quality.

A New Era with Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH

In 2021, AGS entered a new era when it was acquired by Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH (KD), a Germany-based global leader in growing media production. Founded in 1913, and with operations throughout Europe, Asia, America, and now Australia, KD brings a wealth of expertise and resources to AGS This strategic partnership positions AGS as a key player in the international market, and their commercial products are now exported to several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, New Zealand, South Africa, and Japan.

With a renewed focus and full commitment to their commercial operations, AGS has thrived during this exciting new chapter. Their acquisition by this global industry leader has brought immense value to both parties. The exchange of expertise and technologies has elevated AGS’s standing in the industry, while KD gains insights from AGS’s composting background, IP, and unique regional knowledge; the partnership has fostered ongoing knowledge sharing between Europe and Australia, as both regions continue to advance in horticulture and sustainable manufacturing practices.

In its over 50 years of operation, AGS has consistently embraced innovation and adapted to the ever-changing landscape of the horticulture industry. A key driver of AGS’s success lies in its commitment to employing cutting-edge technology to optimise operations. With a series of recent technological upgrades, AGS has significantly enhanced its capacity, efficiency, and ability to meet the growing demands of the industry.

Technological Advancements for Growth and Efficiency

With KD’s backing and federal government grant funding, AGS has invested in cutting-edge technology, representing their largest-scale upgrade since the business’ inception. In 2020, they installed a new wood fibre line, the first of its kind in the country, putting them in lockstep with global trends. The line, tailored to suit Australian conditions, has provided AGS with an alternative to traditional resources like peat, and can cut wood into finer fibre than before, expanding their product range, and reducing reliance on specific materials. By reducing reliance on imported materials and utilising sustainable sources, AGS has greater security and control over its supply chain while minimising its environmental impact.

More recently, AGS’s new state-of-the-art continuous blending line marks a significant advancement in the company’s manufacturing processes. The introduction of bespoke equipment, designed by KD engineers and built in partnership with them, revolutionises the way AGS blends its products. Unlike their traditional batch blending method, which allowed for blending of two metres at a time, the continuous blending line operates constantly, ensuring a consistent flow of perfectly blended materials.

“We’ve gone from batch blending, which is two cubic metre batches at a time, which was probably really the most automated potting mix facility in the country as it was, to a continuous blending line where it’s all automated,” explains Commercial Business Manager Adrian McCarthy. “All fertiliser goes in automatically. All the media goes in automatically, gets blended up and gets delivered straight into a truck.”

The continuous blending line represents a substantial investment and serves as the centrepiece of AGS’s improved production infrastructure. With this technology, AGS achieves a remarkable increase in efficiency, productivity, and output – the transition from batch blending to continuous blending enables them to produce mixes nearly four times faster than before.

This transformative technology not only accelerates AGS’s production capacity but also enhances the quality and consistency of their products. By continually blending the materials, the line ensures an optimal mixture, resulting in superior product performance. The precise control and accuracy of the continuous blending line allow AGS to maintain the highest standards in every batch of mix produced, offering customers a reliable and uniform product.

AGS has developed proprietary software to manage the entire mixing process, ensuring consistency and accuracy. Moreover, they have integrated online pH, moisture, and other metrics monitoring, as well as automatic sampling, enhancing the control and quality assurance of their products.

The impact of these technological upgrades extends beyond productivity gains. AGS’s continuous blending line represents a shift in mindset, embracing a more efficient and streamlined approach to manufacturing. With its ability to continually blend the right materials and quickly adapt to varying demands, AGS is better equipped to meet the industry's evolving needs.

“Nurseries are adapting, and we’re adapting,” says Adrian. These improvements have been funded in part by a federal government grant, its successful attainment a joint effort between AGS and consulting company Blue Rock. The grant is aimed to promote self-reliance and reduce dependence on imported products. AGS seized the opportunity to further improve their capabilities and address industry trends.

A changing of the guard

As they celebrate over 50 years of operation, AGS has recently undergone important transitions in its leadership and management structure, positioning itself for continued innovation and market growth.

One notable change is the upcoming retirement of Peter Jaeschke, AGS’s CEO. With his retirement at the end of the year, Adrian McCarthy will assume the role of CEO. Adrian’s experience and understanding of the industry, coupled with his commitment to AGS’s vision, makes him well-suited to lead the company into the future.

With Adrian’s transition to CEO, Steven Bath will step into the Commercial Business Manager position. Steven’s managerial experience makes him a valuable addition to AGS’s leadership team. With his keen understanding of the market, Stephen is well-positioned to drive AGS’s commercial success and foster strategic partnerships.

AGS’s journey is an example of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement. As they reflect on their 50 years in the industry, they remain focused on their mission to deliver highquality growing media solutions while continuing to embrace cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices.