News

First bell peppers lighting test Hoogstraten already harvested

For the second year in a row, Proefcentrum Hoogstraten is executing tests with lighting for bell peppers. This season, harvest was extra early, last Wednesday January 8 to be precise. Roel Vanderbruggen, manager at the test center: "Normally, the first harvest is in March or April."

Controllable LED lighting, We're going for summer quality products even in winter

There are an impressive 56 different mother plant varieties in the greenhouse of Biological Youngplants, from which over 13 million SKAL certified cuttings are being propagated each year. To improve on both the quality and the cultivation speed of the cuttings, the company uses LED lamps. The lights are equipped in such a way that each lamp can be set for a certain intensity and length of the day. “Every plant has their own lighting needs”, says owner Gerard van der Knaap.

One extra layer with lighting in strawberry greenhouse, also a big step forward

Because it is becoming increasingly difficult for growers to obtain a building permit for the expansion of a greenhouse, it is important to use space creatively. Strawberry growers are also struggling with this, but unlike growers of lettuce, herbs or leafy crops, multi-layer cultivation is not yet that established. Still, that could change, according to Patrick Casteleyn of MechaTronix. "With one extra layer of strawberries, a grower is already making a lot of progress."

Bromeliad plant balance tests show stunning results

A 30 weeks trial to find the ideal balance between LED grow light level and temperature on Bromeliads has been concluded and shows stunning and unexpected results.Where seen the kind of nature of Bromeliads everyone expected that temperature would probably be the biggest influencer on growth, light seemed to be the trigger and factor of success for an accelerated growth of Vriesea and Guzmania bromeliads.

Research toolbox expanded thanks to light with diffused glass

When the lights are out, it looks like a regular grow-rack. However, inside is a specially developed type of diffuse glass, containing both LED lights and a reflecting mirror. This new equipment, the CoolGrow® VF developed by MechaTronix, makes it possible to do dynamic LED research in an affordable way.

Sonsation strawberry trial shows great results – Delphy soft fruit conference

From September 2nd 2018 the HAS University of Applied Science in the Netherlands was the scene for an innovative plant trial on Sonsation strawberries.
January 11th 2019 the trial was finalized and concluded with a visit of the ISFC International Soft Fruit Conference led by Delphy.
An early start and a busy day… 190 visitors all in some way related to strawberry cultivation visited the HAS greenhouses at 7.30AM to witness the outcome of the strawberry trial under various lighting techniques.

BCO Bromelia, Plant Lighting, Botany and MechaTronix cooperate on plant balance Bromelia trial

A good example of the wide interest of MechaTronix in the specialization in a broad crop variety knowledge is this advanced plant balance trial on Bromeliads.
In this trial the BCO Bromelia, a division from the LTO Glaskracht, Plant Lighting, Botany and MechaTronix cooperate on finding the ideal growth circumstances to grow bromeliads in the Netherlands and Belgium in a greenhouse environment.

ProefCentrum Hoogstraten - paprika under LED grow lights

Who cultivates paprika in the west side of Europe for sure knows the Research Centre Hoogstraten (PCH) in Belgium.

Research Centre Hoogstraten (PCH) is located in the north of Antwerp in the middle of an important horticultural area.
Since its foundation in 1955 the centre plays an active role in the development and growth of the horticulture in the region and abroad.

MechaTronix and HAS Den Bosch run advanced grow light trial on Sonsation Strawberries

The HAS University in den Bosch The Netherlands is one of the most famous universities in Europe when it comes down on horticulture and applied science knowledge.

In their own professional greenhouse facilities they cultivate a wide variety of crops.
Since September 2018 the HAS and MechaTronix partner on assimilation light trials for strawberries.