Megaman’s Dino battens provided the perfect lighting solution for Thakeham Farm in Pulborough.
When Thakeham Farm needed replacement light fittings, the solution needed to withstand the varying temperature conditions whilst providing excellent energy efficiency. Megaman’s highly reliable, integrated and linear light fittings were chosen, achieving an efficient lighting scheme and resulting in annual 50% energy saving.
Thakeham Farm, in Pulborough, West Sussex, is part of Monaghan Mushrooms – one of the largest mushroom producers in the world, and has been operating since 2011. The farm has 70 growing houses, producing 6,500 tons of mushrooms a year. Due to the nature of mushroom cultivation, the farm required a lighting fixture for its growing houses that would be resilient to conditions ranging from 14°C to 60°C, as well as being easy to maintain.
Megaman’s Dino fittings were specified to replace the existing non-corrosive IP65 5ft and 6ft fluorescent battens. The Dino range offers a superior lumen distribution package by achieving 104 lumens per watt, thanks to its clear prismatic diffuser. This allows the highly efficient LED lamps to achieve the same lumen output as a traditional twin tube fitting.
The installation saw an annual energy saving for Thakeham Farm of 50%, reducing watt usage from 130W to 63W while producing the same amount of lumens. Tool free terminal blocks and covers, plus the cable entries and through wiring, also ensured that cables could be wired from one fixture to the other, enabling an easier installation where energy sockets were hard to access. And unlike the original glass battens, Dino battens have a tough polycarbonate body and are IK08 rated. The polycarbonate body will not expand or contract when subjected to varying temperatures within the growing houses, reducing the chance of them breaking. Dino battens also reduce the inconvenience and cost of replacement but also ensure that the crops did not suffer any damage that would incur if a glass batten shattered.
Furthermore, due to its IP66 rating, the battens will also withstand the regular water spraying of the mushrooms.
Fred Bass, Managing Director at Megaman, commented: “As Thakeham Farm is focused on the sustainable use of materials throughout every stage of
mushroom growing, we wanted to provide a lighting solution that reflected this environmental approach. The Dino battens offered the perfect solution. Part L compliant, the battens at L70 have a lamp life of up to 50,000 hours without incurring low output levels – providing excellent energy efficiency and a high quality performance.”
