Recently in Zevenhuizen, Holland at the tomato growing company of the Brothers Zwinkels a complete growth light system was replaced. Hortilux Schréder replaced the obsolete installation of 2004 with their latest innovation. The most striking aspect of this project is, that entirely in line with the wishes of the grower, the whole project is carried out during the winter months. Hortilux for this developed a special system and manner of working resulting in no loss whatsoever of light and quality.
Vasco Zwinkels
The company Gebroeders Zwinkels grow tomatoes on the bunch on an area of
14 HA divided over two locations in De Lier and Zevenhuizen respectively. The location Zevenhuizen is from 2004 and has two stores of 5 HA each. The company sorts and packs and sell via FresQ Fresteem. Zwinkels started to grow tomatoes all year round on 5 HA at their location in Zevenhuizen by means of lighting with the 600w HS Remote with deep reflector of Hortilux Schréder.
New connection panel in a department
Existing cables
New connection panel in a department
Existing cables
At the end of 2011 the Gebroeders Zwinkels decided to replace the existing 600w installation by a stronger lighting system. Vasco Zwinkels explains. "By upgrading our present system we would achieve a better and deeper spreading of the light. Apart from a higher production this would also take care of a saving in energy and a better use of our existing energy provision. Therefore we decided not to wait any longer and to increase our in the meantime eight years old installation to 1000 watt.
"There were various possibilities, but the complete replacement of the present installation was the best in our opinion. We knew that this would involve quite a lot of work, but Hortilux developed a special system making it possible for us to use the existing cables."
Welding box under the gutter
Increase in performance
Paul van der Valk of Hortilux Schrèder adds: "We have replaced the old 600w HS Remote installation at Gebroeders Zwinkels by 4,821 of our newest HSE NXT
1000 watt fittings. As a result there is a constant level of light in the glasshouse of
176 µmol. This results in an increase in performance of 17%.
Right the clever led-indicator on the lamp. Left the plug connection
Right the clever led-indicator on the lamp. Left the plug connection
Replacing
Hortilux developed a special manner of working to install the new growth lighting system without the plants and the grower being hindered. Vasco explains: "The new fittings are, contrary to the existing installation, not fixed by wires, but by hanging them directly from the rafters by means of braces. As a result the installation remains where it was. The existing cables are at the bottom of the glasshouse, which ran to the old link-up units, cut and via a welding box linked with a central switch board each bar. Because the new fittings can be linked with an easy plug connection in less than no time we could switch over. These changes went rather quickly and I lost hardly any light."
Paul van der Valk of Hortilux Schrèder together with grower Vasco Zwinkels
Vasco Zwinkels is satisfied with the development of the installation. "Certhon. who installed the new system on behalf of Hortilux, did a good job. Because of the clever linking system department by department switched over. This caused very little loss of light. Every percent profit in light also means for us a one percent production profit. And that is what it is all about."
For more information:
Hortilux Schréder
412, Vlotlaan
2681 TV Monster
+31 (0) 174 28 66 28
[email protected]
www.hortilux.com
Kwekerij Zwinkels
Fa. Gebr. Zwinkels
2, Jan Hendrikspad
2761 KE Zevenhuizen
[email protected]
www.kwekerijzwinkels.nl
Hortilux Schréder
412, Vlotlaan
2681 TV Monster
+31 (0) 174 28 66 28
[email protected]
www.hortilux.com
Kwekerij Zwinkels
Fa. Gebr. Zwinkels
2, Jan Hendrikspad
2761 KE Zevenhuizen
[email protected]
www.kwekerijzwinkels.nl