LED grow lighting technology keeps pitch of AZ Alkmaar in top-condition
This article was written by Keep it Green magazine and published in their December edition.
Text written by: Geert Van Cauwenberge (Keep it Green magazine)
A grass pitch in a sports stadium often faces tough challenges. The combination of a busy playing schedule and challenging weather conditions – from prolonged droughts to harsh winter cold – is not always conducive to healthy grass growth. With a range of advanced growth systems, including LED grow lighting, SGL provides sports clubs with innovative solutions to optimize the growth and health of sports grass. Jan Dijkhuizen, field manager at the AFAS Stadium of AZ Alkmaar, is full of praise for SGL’s ‘miracle lamps.’
The quality of sports fields is essential for top performance and a safe playing environment. SGL, a leading company in sports field technology, plays a crucial role in this. Their advanced LED grow lighting systems have revolutionized the way grass on sports fields is maintained. This technology has proven its worth in numerous top stadiums worldwide, including the AFAS football stadium of AZ Alkmaar.
Impressive client portfolio
SGL – short for Stadium Grow Lighting – specializes in innovative solutions to optimise the growth and health of sports grass under challenging conditions. Using precision technology, the company offers solutions for stadiums and sports fields struggling with limited sunlight, heavy usage, and unfavourable weather conditions. The systems are designed to make grass stronger, greener, and more sustainable, even in stadiums with roofs that limit natural light. In its sector, SGL aims to be a true game-changer in sports field management.
The client portfolio of the company, based in Waddinxveen, the Netherlands, is impressive. SGL’s system has already been implemented in more than 500 of the largest sports clubs and stadiums worldwide, from Camp Nou in Barcelona to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and from the Allianz Arena in Munich to the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia.
Innovative grow lighting
How does LED grow lighting work in practice? This technology replicates natural sunlight and provides precisely the right wavelengths that grass needs for photosynthesis. By using red and blue light, growth and recovery are stimulated. LED lighting is not only effective but also energy-efficient. This technology uses less electricity than traditional HPS lighting and generates less heat. In addition, the SGL systems are equipped with sensors and advanced software that continuously collect data on field conditions, such as temperature. Using this information, the lighting system automatically adjusts the infrared output to meet the needs of the field, resulting in a consistent, high-quality turf.
Wide range of benefits
An investment in an LED grow lighting system offers numerous advantages. By using this type of lighting, the grass becomes healthier and stronger, which leads to fewer bare spots and better playing quality. At the same time, a stronger pitch reduces the impact of intensive usage. This allows the grass to recover faster after matches or training sessions, which is especially important with a demanding playing schedule. And, as previously mentioned, there is the energy-saving, which reduces the club’s annual energy bill.
“With an LED grow lighting system, sports grass remains healthier and stronger, resulting in fewer bare spots and better playing quality on the sports field.”
Case study: AFAS Stadium, AZ Alkmaar
A great example of how SGL’s LED grow systems work can be seen at the Dutch football club AZ Alkmaar. At the AFAS Stadium, field manager Jan Dijkhuizen is responsible for pitch maintenance. Thanks to SGL’s LED technology, he keeps the health and strength of the sports grass well under control.
“Maintaining our pitch is a challenging task,” says Jan. “Three years ago, the management invested in a new Grassmaster pitch, a mix of natural and artificial grass. The combination of unpredictable weather conditions – with increasingly longer dry periods and intense rain showers – and a busy match calendar continuously tests the quality of the pitch year-round. During the summer months, our grass sometimes struggles to retain enough moisture. With the SGL lighting installations, we keep the grass’s growth cycle well under control. We use three installations every other day, which consume a total of 300 Watts. Even after heavy use, the field recovers within a few days, ensuring consistent quality.”
“Our collaboration with SGL has been ongoing for several years, and our contact with their team has been excellent. The communication lines are short, so if we have any questions, we quickly receive a response from Waddinxveen,” concludes Jan.
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