Are you aware of the latest developments in commercial greenhouse screens?

Greenhouse horticulture thrives on light management.

Properly controlling light and heat levels with screens can mean the difference between a high-quality harvest and plants that fall short.

Innovators in modern greenhouse technology have looked sought to create screens that can dynamically adjust light to encourage better crop production and provide even more value to commercial growers.

Specialist producer of textiles for climate and environmental solutions, Ludvig Svensson, has made notable developments with their PARperfect climate screen that enables growers to gain more control how much natural light and heat their crops receive.

So, why is greenhouse light control so important and how are the latest developments in screens empowering commercial greenhouse growers?

The science behind how much light your crops need

Every medical plant, flower and edible food crop needs light to encourage healthy growth.

In principle, the more light and CO2 a crop receives, the faster photosynthesis takes place and the higher the glucose production, which acts as the building blocks for the plant’s growth.

However, many species of plant do not like or need direct or continual sunlight for optimal growth. Furthermore, long hours of sunlight can even cause a greenhouse to become too hot for sustainable growing. If plants are given too much light or heat, it can lead to stunted growth, withering and decay.

More challenges are also created with light from the sun naturally varying depending on the time of year, the time of day and the everchanging weather conditions. This means finding the ideal light and temperature conditions in a greenhouse requires more intuitive solutions.

Creating a better quality of light for your crops

Traditional climate screens typically stay fixed in place, often leading to excessive shading, which limits the amount of natural light plants receive. Without the ability to adjust the screens easily, growers risk providing too much or too little light, leading to leaf burn, flower damage, or stunted growth.

Through modern developments in the PARperfect climate screen, growers can seamlessly control and adjust their natural light levels to benefit higher production, substantial energy savings and higher crop quality.

PARperfect screens have been designed to be reflective, allowing high-grade light diffusion can be achieved to actively scatter the sunlight to reach deeper – and more evenly – onto greenhouse crops.

Furthermore, the adjustment features of the screen can provide a cooling effect for the greenhouse structure throughout hot and sunny summer months.

How does the PARperfect climate screen work?

The system uses a combination of at least two screens. The bottom layer is the patented Harmony PARperfect screen, which provides a high degree of light diffusion and transmission. The second screen – such as the Harmony or Obscura – helps fine-tune the light levels based on specific needs.

Growers can dynamically adjust the screens to respond to varying light conditions, ensuring that plants receive the optimal amount of diffused light while preventing excessive shading.

So, how can incorporating a more intuitive greenhouse climate screen – like the PARperfect – benefit you?

Higher quality crop production

Modern screens enable greenhouses to be more flexible.

With PARperfect you can control the screen level in the greenhouse, from 20% to 100%, just like a dimmer on a light switch. This means you can quickly respond to the changing weather conditions by opening and closing the screen.

By achieving optimised light levels based on the photosynthetically active Radiation (PAR) and cumulative light (PARSUM), PARperfect can help commercial growers capture the right amount of light for each season – promoting faster, better and healthier crop growth.

Greater energy savings

The PARperfect climate screen provides greater control over your light and temperature.

With added shade in your structure, your plants can stay protected from overheating during those hot summer months with less reliance on ventilation or active cooling.

When the screens are fully closed, they can also contain heat during cold periods like night time, reducing the need to use energy for heating.

By gaining better control over temperature, commercial growers can reduce their dependence on artificial cooling or heating equipment which can quickly ramp up energy consumption and operational costs.

Svensson in partnership with Bridge Greenhouses

Established in 1887, Ludvig Svensson is a family-owned business with

more than 130 years of experience in the textile industry.

Today, their PARperfect represents a new era in greenhouse light management, empowering growers to better control the growing environment, maximise natural light use and optimise crop outcomes.

As a leading supplier of state-of-the-art greenhouse solutions, we are proud to be in partnership with Svensson. With extensive experience in constructing greenhouses for commercial use, we always make sure that the latest innovations and technology – like the PARperfect screens – are incorporated into the greenhouses of the future.

More information on Bridge Greenhouses can be found at https://www.bridgegreenhouses.co.uk/