In just two years, Dutch company Rainbow Colors has increased production by 50% and reduced energy consumption by 25% by installing LED growth lights.
CEO Bas Karsten, with more than 25 years of experience in horticulture and the tulip industry, is no novice when it comes to creating good growing conditions. Every year Rainbow Colors, founded by Bas himself 11 years ago, produces more than 47 million tulips in the Netherlands.
Bas Karsten wanted to increase production yields and contacted DGT by Senmatic in February 2014. His goal was to explore the possibilities of LED grow lights and advanced lighting control systems after years of using more traditional light fixtures. Bas consulted with the experts at DGT by Senmatic and decided to install the FL300, a luminaire that has a high light output, offers a high degree of control and is very cost-effective.
– We decided to test the LED grow lights for a short period to see if it was possible to grow better quality tulips under these lights than under our traditional lighting system. And it was indeed possible,” says Bas Karsten.
A unique formula for greenhouse lighting
Bas Karsten conducted a trial with 10 LED luminaires to test the installation and the impact on his production. Bas Karsten says:
“When we saw the improvement in the quality of our tulips, the decision to install the LED grow lights throughout the production was not difficult. After three seasons, we have gone from 10 luminaires to half a hectare and we have achieved energy savings of up to 25%.
Today, Bas Karsten has created his own unique formula for how to make the most of the LED lighting control system – in combination with natural light. Using advanced LED luminaires, Bas has established a new vertical farming setup that makes it possible to produce 50% more tulips. Crucially, achieving these results has not required any increased heating costs or expansion of the Rainbow Colors production facility.
3 Benefits of LED growth lights
Quality improvements and other benefits of LED growth lights
Over the past few years, it has become widely accepted that LED grow light systems are the future of industrial horticulture. LED systems have several advantages, all related to production optimization and efficiency. And because LED lighting enables vertical farming, existing production facilities can be fully utilized.
In addition to the obvious benefits of vertical farming, Bas Karsten has experienced significant quality improvements in its production thanks to the high degree of control possible with LED grow lights. Bas Karsten has found that the quality of the tulips increases when exposed to LED lighting for seven days and natural light for 14 days. Thanks to the adaptability of the LED system, he can continuously change the lighting. The fact that LED grow lights produce almost no heat compared to regular light fixtures is an additional advantage when it comes to tulip production quality.
“The quality has improved, we have increased production by 50% in the same area, and the LED growth lamps produce almost no heat – these are the benefits we have experienced after installing the lamps.”
Bas Karsten CEO at Rainbow Colors
Customizing the LED installation
One of the main factors behind Bas Karsten’s decision to switch to LED lighting was the ability to change the settings according to conditions. The conditions for tulip production are different in December than in March, and the LED grow light system makes it possible to make the necessary adjustments.
– Grow light systems must be adapted to each production process and culture – and each grower is an expert in their own production, says Morten Hjort, Global Sales Manager at DGT by Senmatic.
– But for commercial growers who have no previous experience with LED lighting, it is crucial that the installation and testing period is carried out under the expert guidance of LED grow light system experts. At DGT by Senmatic, we have experience with a wide range of different cultures and we have a clear idea of how to begin the installation of LED grow lights. Our role is to offer advice and guidance on implementation, to collaborate with our customers throughout the installation and testing phase and to share our knowledge throughout the process.
The scale-up of Rainbow Colors’ LED setup from a small test area to a full-fledged vertical farming installation was carried out in close collaboration between DGT by Senmatics consultants and Bas Karsten himself.
Morten Hjorth recommends following Bas Karsten’s example of testing and adapting the LED system on a small scale to gain the necessary knowledge and experience and to find the preferred settings in the LED system before scaling up.
Read more about our solutions for horticulture and business areas.
“We are passionate about helping our customers realize the full potential of their business. In line with Bas Karsten’s experience, we recommend our customers who are interested in LED growth lights to contact us so we can start a dialog about the best solution.”
Johnny Rasmussen Business Development Manager at DGT by Senmatic
Contact us today to learn more about the possibilities of LED grow light systems and indoor cultivation!
