When the energy crisis hit, cut chrysanthemum grower Lewis Flowers was just about to introduce a hybrid lighting strategy, combining SON-T and LED fixtures. But soaring energy prices forced the company to rethink its plans. Instead of going hybrid, Lewis Flowers took a bold leap: all lamps were concentrated in half of the greenhouse, allowing production to continue fully under LED light. After one more year of partial hybrid lighting, the company decided to go all-in, switching entirely to LED across the entire growing area.
© Mechatronix
© Mechatronix
Results: more flowers, lower costs
The transition paid off quickly. Under full LED lighting, the grower now harvests more flowers per square meter, and the superior energy efficiency of LEDs has led directly to a lower electricity bill.
Reliability and service as decisive factors
Lewis Flowers deliberately chose MechaTronix as their lighting supplier, even though there were cheaper options available. "The cooling system works incredibly well," explains Yorick Leeuwis. "We installed 3,000 new fixtures, and every single one is running perfectly. Any minor issues that came up were resolved quickly and professionally, which gave us confidence. With other brands, that level of assurance just wasn't there." The decision to go with MechaTronix not only resulted in a reliable installation but also brought peace of mind for the years ahead.
© Mechatronix
© Mechatronix
Flexibility
The system also gives the company valuable flexibility. The LEDs are automatically dimmed whenever electricity prices spike. "The lights are constantly switching up and down, completely automated," Yorick explained in an earlier interview about how the company manages energy and power costs (link in Dutch). "Price fluctuations have become much more extreme," he adds. "On any given day, gas prices can vary by 2 or 3 cents, and the imbalance market truly lives up to its name. We calculate everything back to cost per stem and compare that with other growers every four weeks. It's amazing how big the differences can be these days."
For more information:
MechaTronix
Phone: +31 (0)76 790 16 10
[email protected]
www.horti-growlight.com
