Upgrade your current SON-T system to LED

The importance of light distribution in LED grow light systems is many times seriously underestimated. Certainly grass which is sensitive to fluctuations over the turf pitch in received PPFD are in absolute need of a proper light distribution.
A perfect even light distribution over the turf pitch from a single luminaire is still something most grow lights seem to have difficulties with to manage.

A lot of horticulture grow lights that even use LEDs, spread out over a cooler. Often without the use of any optics to control the beam distribution, just with a simple glass or plexi cover.
With these lamps the light output always comes as a 120 degree beam with a parabolic shape.

A LED package without secondary optics has a typical light distribution angle of 120° or 80°. This means that when the energy directly under the light fixture = 100%, you will have a light and energy decrease to 80% at 30 degrees left and right, and a further erosion to 40% at 60 degrees left and right of the luminaire. As an effect, homogeneous grass growth is not possible with this kind of setup.

With the Mechatronix CoolStack® grow lights you can choose from various TIR or "Total Internal Reflection" lenses for an optimal balance between light distribution and grass penetration resulting in an optimal energy efficiency and even grass growth.

In horticultural practice the distribution of assimilation light within the grass market is one of the most discussed issues. Since costs for light, and thus energy, do not seem to stop increasing, an efficient use of assimilation light is of considerable importance for fieldmanagers. Many suppliers still use HPS SON-T. We apply only apply Mechatornix LED lights. Why did we made this decision?

While the efficiency and technology of HPS SON-T grow lights has stabilized over years, the efficiency of LED grow lights moves up every year. Just a few years ago we could still discuss if LED grow lights would offer a major advantage over the well-known and proven, but very limited lifetime technology of HPS SON-T lamps.

Today it is clear that the future of horti assimilation lighting is completely turning in the direction of LED technology. The most important cost driver of any grass grow solution is energy efficiency. Due to it's proven track-record, the only way to go is a LED powered solution. The cost savings make sure that within 3 years a LED system is cheaper than SON-T.

We apply more than just another LED grow light. For LED retrofit projects and our Boosters, we used the Mechatronix Coolstack®, with a market leading efficacy of 3.5µmol/J, as it is a state-of-the-art grow light platform with an unprecedented level of technology and vision in it. As an example, it is the world's first sustainable LED grow light on the market. With a 10 year warranty and LED life time of 75.000 burning hours this stand equivalent to 20 years of use at a yearly rate of 3.600 hours of deployment. Of course in that time the technology and efficiency of LED grow lights will drastically change and improve, and your energy cost is one of the major aspects.

Therefore, the the CoolStack® is designed in such a way that the LED grow light engines can be replaced and updated over time. Did you know that the LED emitters only count for 35% of the total cost of a grow light, and that the expectations are that this percentage will further decline over time when the LEDs become cheaper? So why would you throw away 100% of a LED lamp after a few years when you want to upgrade to the next level of market efficiency in grow lights while you could do that with just a part of the cost?

This is how we contribute, not only in your current investment but also in your future!