Fluence by OSRAM (Fluence), a leading global provider of energy-efficient LED lighting solutions for commercial cannabis and food production, announced today its partnership with SunMed Growers, a 250,000-square-foot greenhouse cannabis facility located in Warwick, Maryland. Together, the companies have retrofitted SunMed’s facility from high-pressure sodium (HPS) fixtures to LEDs and increased overall light intensity over the last two years, resulting in up to 30% yield increases for several of the company’s main production strains.
The largest cultivator in Maryland, SunMed is helmed by third-generation greenhouse grower Jake Van Wingerden. Van Wingerden’s family carries a notable legacy in the industry and is a household greenhouse grower name among horticulturists. According to a recent feature in Cannabis Business Times, members of the Van Wingerden family oversee more than 30 million square feet of U.S. greenhouse space. Jake Van Wingerden channeled decades of cultivation knowledge into one of the most advanced cannabis facilities in the U.S., which he expanded from 70,000 square feet to 250,000 square feet in just five years.
“We have learned so much over the last five years and I’m thrilled that we not only continue to grow our footprint, but deliver the highest-quality cannabis products to the Maryland market,” Van Wingerden said. “Through our partnership with Fluence, we’ve seen a notable difference in plant quality over the last two years. Our plants have never been healthier and are growing with incredible vigor under Fluence’s LEDs.”
Before implementing Fluence’s lighting solutions, Van Wingerden used HPS fixtures to supplement the greenhouse’s natural light. However, he knew he could bring in more light at higher efficiencies with more advanced technology. After researching the benefits of LEDs, he realized the significant energy savings, higher light levels—without excess heat—and overall increases in yield were more advantageous than continuing with HPS. After successful trialing of Fluence’s LEDs, Van Wingerden and SunMed made the decision to retrofit the entire facility with Fluence’s VYPR series top light. The data shows from 2019 to 2021, SunMed recorded up to 30% increases in yield across several of its most prominent strains. SunMed also recorded consistent or slightly elevated levels of potency. Now, Van Wingerden is working with Fluence to double the facility’s light intensity without impacting the shading of the current fixture arrangement.
"Las plantas de cannabis soportan una cantidad de luz tremenda. Al duplicar nuestra intensidad lumínica -y con otra ampliación de las instalaciones en el futuro- produciremos rendimientos fuera de serie", añadió Van Wingerden.
Además de la tecnología LED de Fluence, las instalaciones de SunMed también aprovechan un sistema holandés de mesas rodantes totalmente automatizado para trasladar las plantas a través de cada fase del cultivo. Junto con los sustratos de cultivo propios y las estrictas prácticas sanitarias, el prístino invernadero de SunMed refleja los amplios conocimientos de Van Wingerden y la experiencia combinada en horticultura de su equipo.
"Es un honor trabajar junto a Jake y su equipo en SunMed; son verdaderos expertos en su oficio y son pioneros en algunos de los diseños de instalaciones más innovadores del mercado actual", dijo David Cohen, CEO de Fluence. "Estamos ansiosos por apoyar al equipo de SunMed en sus futuras expansiones y ser testigos de cómo las estrategias de alta intensidad lumínica pueden impulsar rendimientos récord y una magnífica calidad de las plantas."
