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.
"Les plants de cannabis peuvent absorber une quantité énorme de lumière. En doublant notre intensité lumineuse - et en prévoyant un autre agrandissement de nos installations - nous obtiendrons des rendements hors normes", ajoute M. Van Wingerden.
En plus de la technologie LED de Fluence, les installations de SunMed utilisent également un système de table roulante hollandaise entièrement automatisé pour déplacer les plantes à travers chaque phase de la culture. Associée à ses propres milieux de culture et à des pratiques sanitaires rigoureuses, la serre immaculée de SunMed reflète la riche expertise de Van Wingerden ainsi que l'expérience combinée de son équipe dans le domaine de l'horticulture.
"C'est un honneur de travailler aux côtés de Jake et de son équipe à SunMed - ce sont de véritables experts dans leur domaine et ils sont à l'origine de certaines des conceptions d'installations les plus innovantes sur le marché aujourd'hui ", a déclaré David Cohen, PDG de Fluence. "Nous sommes impatients de soutenir l'équipe de SunMed dans ses futures expansions et de voir comment les stratégies de haute intensité lumineuse peuvent conduire à des rendements records et à une superbe qualité des plantes."
