30 years of expertise in LED lighting

In an early stage Nijssen recognized the potential of colored LED lighting for plant growth. At its locations in Leiden and Wageningen, the Nijssen Light Division did a lot of fundamental research in the 1980s, including steering light. Even with a lower light output from the older generation of LED lamps, it was already clear that the growth of plants could be influenced and controlled in many ways: stoning, stimulating rooting, stretching plants or making more side shoots, flowering early pulling plants and accelerating flowering for seed from seed breeding were the major innovations with LED lighting, as well as the prevention of dark damage during transport.

More about the development of LED technology and the role of Nijssen: LED Technology for Crop Production in Controlled Environments (UCNFA News, Spring 2016) and LED Lighting in Horticulture (HortScience, American Society for Horticultural Science, November 2016)

Focus on core business

The first growth lamps were very expensive and had a low light output. Commercial application in large-scale projects would require years of development. That is why Nijssen decided in the 1990s to concentrate on the core business: offering optimum climate conditions, for every room and for every product. The Light Division was sold to a renowned international lighting producer.

Custom LED solution

Nijssen has continued to apply the expertise gained in the realization of innovative climate chambers. In this way we grew into a sought-after knowledge partner for a large number of universities and research centers. For each project our engineers look for a customized LED solution. "We deliberately chose not to work with regular suppliers," says Edwin Snabel, Business Unit Manager Climate Technology at Nijssen. “There are so many different systems on the market, each with their own specifications and qualities. Which solution is best depends to a large extent on the application. "

Urban Farming on the rise

After many generations of LED lighting, cost-effective business models are now in sight. And that ensures a rapid emergence of multi-layer closed cultivation systems, for example in the many city farming projects worldwide. However, it remains difficult to select the most suitable LED solution from the large range on the market. Nijssen offers a solution with the new MyGrowthRoom.

MyGrowthRoom: professional research within reach

With MyGrowthRoom, a mobile walk-in climate room, growers and researchers can test light and growth concepts quickly and easily. The flexible layout makes it possible to test different lighting systems simultaneously under the same conditions. The selected settings can easily be specified. Thus, a successful test leads directly to a growth recipe.