"We have always promoted water cooling. Since we now also offer an alternative, our message about water cooling is perhaps even stronger. Water cooling remains the best option - we can now back that up by comparing it with the alternative we have in-house." With those words, Jan Mol with Oreon, kicks off the interview.
During GreenTech, Oreon introduced their new, hybrid lamp, the Commander. An unusual move for a company known for their water-cooled lamps, as the new luminaire is not water-cooled. Sales Director Jan Mol tells us why this particular step is a logical one.
Jan Mol
Water cooling
Jan once again lists the advantages of water cooling: "It is a great way to tackle heat, which is the biggest problem with LED lighting. With water cooling, you have a small fixture thanks to active cooling, low temperatures, and a longer lifespan. We have been supplying those luminaires for more than a decade now, and they still work without any problems."
Yet now we have managed to offer a luminaire without water cooling that also cools very well, Jan continues. "The Commander is only bigger as a result. We call it a hybrid cooled lamp because the heat from the LEDs is dissipated through heat pipes. Heat pipes, derived from the telecom and computer industry, ensure fast and efficient transport of the heat across the entire surface of the heat sink, keeping the LEDs very cool even in this luminaire. This is important for longevity and efficiency.
Further than air-cooled
The new lamp may not be water-cooled, but Oreon takes it a step further than existing air-cooled luminaires, according to Jan. "Firstly, we have four channels that you can control independently. That offers enormous flexibility: for example, you can use the same lamp to light two different crops, or adjust the light recipes per season."
The Commander also goes up to 1800 watts. "That means you can light your crop with far fewer lamps, and therefore also have lower installation costs." The number of lamps can also be reduced because of the new lens that has been developed - which improves the spread of light. "That lens is brand new - tests already show that uniformity, even at shorter distances, is even better."
Finally - as with all Oreon luminaires, the Commander is also spectrum-independent. "The customer can decide its spectrum. Thereby, our water-cooled luminaires are switchable up to three channels, while the Commander is now thus 4-channel."
For more information:
Jan Mol 
Oreon
Tel +31 (0)30 7600660
[email protected]
www.oreon-led.com