The Finnish company Netled researches and develops new lighting systems for horticulture. One of the eye catching products they have developed is a screen in which LEDs are knitted in.Netled started its search for effective lighting techniques in 2007. General manager Niko Kivioja: "My father was a grower himself, but is now retired. I got involved in his company and became interested in the technical side of the production. That’s how I became increasingly interested in the possibilities of alternative lighting techniques. In Finland, the electricity prices are a big cost, so LED lighting can provide a cost effective solution for greenhouse growers who wish to provide year-round product."
The idea for the Netled originated from the textile industry. There is a strips with LEDs knitted into the fabric. The cloth is made of the same material as well-known shading screens . It is very flexible and therefore easy to insert into existing situations. The nets are easy to handle , with their length of 25 meters they can be rolled into convenient packages.
Currently Netled runs various tests in cooperation with growers to develop the product even further.
Besides the net systems Netled also manufactures high brightness LED luminaires which are particularly well suited for potted plants. Niko: ", These luminaires, Hortishine named, gain a high efficiency thanks to the high brightness LED’s. The aluminum housing keeps the led units in optimum temperature and therefore very reliable and suitable for pot plants growing "
Niko Kivioja
"We are very busy exploring the possibilities and opportunities of LED’s in horticulture. Thus there is currently a test at a lettuce growers greenhouse of 500m2. Here we are experimenting with the combination of our Hortishine LED luminaires and traditional SON-T lighting as a hybrid. We ourselves believe that the combination lighting will be the way to implement leds into traditional greenhouses.
For more information:
Netled
Niko Kivioja
+358 50 360 8121
[email protected]
www.netled.fi
Schetelig is Netled's dealer in Baltic countries, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Belarus.
[email protected]
http://www.schetelig.com/