We’re buying multi-tier grow rack mobile carriages from Pipp or Montel (GreenRak).
I’m looking for comments/reviews from people who have used them. I hope someone here has used both, seen both in action, or has used one or the other. Suggestions for other mobile carriage companies I should consdier are welcome.
Design-wise, they are very similar, and both use 14 ga steel. The main physical difference between them is that Motel bakes on the steel coating while Pipp paints the steel. Plus, I believe Pipp uses a split rail while Montel uses a solid rail. Montal claims debris can clog in the Pipp rails, which won’t occur with the Montel rails. Pipp may have updated their rail design, but it doesn’t seem like a deal breaker even if they haven’t.
Pipp offers its Elevate platform catwalk (22" or 44" wide) to access the higher tiers. They are releasing an update to their Elevate platform within two months to work with the wall-facing sides of the outside carriages. Montel is releasing a similar platform catwalk within two months (they are currently finishing the patent application). They claim their system will be easier and quicker to set up and break down than Pipp’s, and it will also work on the wall-facing sides of the outside carriages.
Pipp’s lead time is shorter at 8-12 weeks, while Montel’s is 12-14 weeks.
Pipp has faster and more compressive customer service, and their manufacturing plant is only about 3 hours from our facility.
Pipp is more expensive. With identical layout and carriage numbers and lengths, the Pipp proposal for our project is about $70K more than Montel’s.
Both companies do great work, but in my experience Pipp’s service and support when it comes to cannabis projects is worth the high price tag. Sounds like you already know that.
Thanks for your comment. Yeah, it’s day and night comparing the two regarding support and customer interaction. I think it’s partly (mainly?) because Montel’s primary focus is museum storage. That’s their bread and budder. They got into the cannabis industry only a few years ago.
Have you used Pipp’s Elevate platform? If so, what is your opinion?
I’m also going with mobile carriages for our drying room and will use whichever company I end up using for that as well.
Hey brother. Did the facility use the Elevate platform? I’m hoping to find someone who has been on the platform and can speak to the workability of a 22" catwalk. I’m thinking about getting the 44" catwalk version because 22" seems too narrow (coming from working 28" asiles with rolling benches). Within the next two weeks, I’m heading to the Pipp facility in Grand Rapids to see how I like the 22" wide catwalk.
With only 14’ high ceilings in approximately 1,600 sq. ft. rooms, I’m getting 128.5% benching efficiency using two tiers. That’s undoubtedly a significant yield per area increase compared to what I’m used to at a very high benching efficiency of 85-88% with rolling benches. Another big plus I’m looking forward to is the wider working ailse with the mobile carriages, at 4.0-4.5 feet vs 2.33 feet for rolling benches.
I’m dithering because I could spend that $70K savings from Montel on other equipment. I’m trying to spend money wisely, like buying a badass Ferrari with company logo and color wrapping!
In my opinion, it should be a no brainer that if Montel is less expensive, I would choose Montel because their product is a good notch superior in terms of quality and their added features. Just the fact that they use trolleys versus a mobile carriage allows for better floor cleaning and ventilation. There is a nice clip regarding this on their Instagram page.
Harbor Farmz here in Michigan visited different grow operations in North America and actually visited both Montel and Pipp manufacturers. They were very impressed with Montel’s paint line. It also seems that Pipp does not make their racking as they resell racking made by another company in Tennessee. Harbor Famz initially had Pipp but after these visits went all the way in with Montel products. There must be a reason why considering that Pipp is located in their backyard. There is a nice video on their You Tube channel and Harbor Farmz using Montel. I bet Harbor Farmz would probably agree to show you their facility and Montel product.
I also heard the Montel’s SmartDrain drainage trays are very effective regarding irrigation since water and debris do not stand still in the middle and corners as seen with other trays.
The Montel service and support may vary depending on the region and who you are dealing with (dealer reps or manufacturer reps). They have hired horticulture experts over the years so I would assume they got better at this level. Montel was actually the first industry when they installed a mobile system at The Grove in Las Vegas in 2016. Montel was alone and seen as the pioneer at MJ Biz Con the first few years and Pipp and others followed and seen as followers. The master grower at The Grove actually works for Montel now I believe.
Either Pipp or Montel, their lead times vary all the time depending on how busy they are. When the lead time is longer for one factory, I guess it is a good sign that their products are more popular so perhaps the wait is worth it. Both manufacturers will often do anything possible to meet your delivery date since they don’t want to lose the order.
Anyone tried Montel’s SpeedDeck? I would be curious to know how it compares versus Pipp and which is best? I personally don’t like these decking since you are basically converting a mobile system into a static system so you can’t use other aisles when platforms are installed, and usually these decking are cumbersome (assembly and dismantle), and you are not maximizing space in your room. And then you need a storage room to store the decking when not in use which is not ideal to move stuff in and out of the flower rooms. An electrical lift decking is probably the best scenario as used by Harbor Farmz.
I am trying to include some web links to support what I say but this platform does not allow me to copy and paste web links (error message I get). Although I see that Ralf was able to post a YouTube web links in the first comments above?
Montel’s track is great too. Their surface mounted track is the lowest in the industry with only 3/8" as opposed to Pipp at 1/2" so for me it makes it smoother to roll carts or forklifts over the rails. And since the track is made of aluminium and one-piece rail, it does not accumulate debris and is very easy to clean as opposed to the two-piece rail like Pipp. I like the Montel aluminium track sine it does not rust.
