Netherlands: Reflectors cleaned after fire with new machine by Lightshine Cleaning

Last month, a fire broke out in the greenhouse of rose nursery Marjoland. In spite of grower Joop van den Nouweland’s sober view of the situation, there are many issues that need to be taken care of. One is cleaning the lamps, and the new automated cleaning machine for supplemental lighting by Lightshine Cleaning may be just the thing. A total of 8,000 reflectors have been cleaned in two days.

“I’d say, that with a 200.000-m2 acreage, losing 300-400 m2 of cultivation is not the end of the world,” says Joop. “But still, a lot needs to be done to get things going again." Most things are sorted out by now, but the cleaning the reflectors still had to be done. Last week Lightshine Cleaning took care of it in just two days.

Invisible
In the greenhouse area where the fire broke out, all reflectors were cleaned. "In some places you see some nasty smuts, but not all damage is visible. Only at closer inspection do you notice that the functionality of the reflectors has declined with about 1.5 to 3 percent," says André Flinterman of Raymax, who does the measurements of the reflectors. “That doesn’t seem much, but in cultivation that percentage makes a huge difference. You have to have optimal exposure.”

Automated cleaning machine
The new automated cleaner by Lightshine Cleaning deployed at Marjoland, is equipped with a robotic arm and has increased capacity. "They clean 300, 400 lamps per hour,” Joop estimates. “About 3,000 a day, which is more than decent.”

In addition to a higher capacity, the robotic arm also makes it possible to clean different types of reflectors. "The machine cleans all models," says Flinterman. "That's the advantage you get with an adaptable arm. That and having fully operational reflectors again!”

More information:
Lightshine Cleaning
Marcel van den Bogert
+31 6 337 931 58
marcel@lightshine.nl
Jeff van den Bogert
+31 6 237 715 64
jeff@lightshine.nl

Raymax b.v.
Vlotlaan 412
2681 TV Monster
T: +31 (0) 174 289 082
F: +31 (0) 174 289 443
E: info@raymax.nl
I: www.raymax.nl

Publication date: Fri 24 Oct 2014