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supply their customers with healthier and higher quality
fruit on an ongoing basis.
The Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas generating sheet has
been independently tested by both local and internation-
al testing facilities and results have consistently provided
the lowest SO
2
residue level of any SO
2
gas generating
sheet in use, while still acting as an effective fungicide.
Tests by the Volcani Institute in Israel confirmed the
Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas generating sheets’ SO
2
residue levels to be less than 2 ppm after a ten week
period, and this was achieved without decreasing the
Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas generating sheets effi-
cacy as a fungicide.
Release of SO
2
gas takes place through a monolithic release
mechanism once the sheet comes into contact with the
high levels of moisture present inside the grape packaging.
Release of SO
2
gas is directed in only one direction by the
non SO
2
gas permeable polymeric carrier material. The fact
that SO
2
gas is only allowed to move in one direction com-
bined with the unique gas release properties of the poly-
mer matrix allowVinguard
TM
to use lower dosages of SO
2
to
obtain effective Botrytis cinerea control.
The unique construction of the polymer matrix enable
the Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas generating sheet to
release SO
2
gas in a controlled manner in two distinctive
phases over an extended period of time. Manipulation of
the release rate can be achieved by changing the com-
position of the polymer matrix.
Approvals and Accreditations
The Vinguard
TM
two stage SO
2
gas generating sheet has
been approved for use by all major UK supermarkets in-
cluding Tesco, Asda, Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury. In
addition to this the Vinguard
TM
SO
2
generating sheet has
also been accredited by numerous international buyers
and exporters including Richard Hochfeld, Prima Fruit,
Gomez and International Produce.
The way Forward
Vinguard is one of only two companies in South Africa
who produce this product and the market opportunity is
therefore significant. The company has revised its chan-
nels to market and the initial orders for the season at
hand as encouraging.
The opportunities to diversify the product offering, the
application for other agricultural produce as well as
other markets are all under review by the directors. The
expansion in the core business as well as all three areas
enumerated is expected to be very significant providing
returns for the shareholders.
When someone tells me something is impossible, all I hear is
that he or she in particular cannot do it. If it can be thought,
it can be done.
- Brian Vaszily