P.L. Light Systems

This interview details P.L. Light Systems, a leading manufacturer of horticultural lighting systems for controlled environment agricultural applications based in Canada. The interview is with Lisa Jansen van Rensburg, Director of Marketing of P.L. Light Systems.

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What is the origin story of P.L. Light Systems?

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Headquartered in Beamsville, Ontario, P.L. Light Systems has been operating since 1981, when it first opened the doors of its Canadian office as the North American division of Poot Lichtenergie B.V. – servicing both the North and South American markets.

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As one of the original pioneers in horticultural lighting, Poot Lichtenergie first began producing horticultural lighting systems in the Netherlands in 1977. The company was later acquired by family-owned, Netherlands-based Dool Industries. Our current Canadian owner and president, Todd Phillips, purchased the company in 2020.

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The company has contributed greatly to the development of horticultural lighting over the years. In 1999 we became the first lighting manufacturer to introduce supplementary lighting products that enable the year-round production of vegetables. We also collaborated with a leading lamp manufacturer in 2005 to pioneer the development of the first 1000 Watt luminaire with double-ended lamp technology. Today, P.L. Light Systems remains a leader in both HID (high-intensity discharge) and LED (light-emitting diode) horticultural lighting solutions.

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The company distributes products across Canada, the USA, and South America from its manufacturing facility in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. This is the base for the company’s team of passionate and experienced professionals which helps drive their growth. 

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What are some of the biggest challenges facing P.L. Light Systems in the future? 

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As one of the few remaining privately owned lighting manufacturers, we don’t always have access to the same type of resources and funding as our large corporately owned competitors. On the flip side, however, our deep experience within the horticultural space, the fact that we are an extremely nimble organization, and our continued dedication to the best interests and success of our customers and employees, means that we are well poised to continue to develop product solutions that best meet our customers’ specific needs.

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Our team of passionate, dedicated, knowledgeable professionals have been here for our customers for the past forty-two years and is committed to constantly evolving our product offerings and improving our service levels to ensure we have the opportunity to serve our customers, old and new, for another forty years and beyond.

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What is unique about P.L. Light Systems compared to competitors? 

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P.L. Light Systems has always been designing and manufacturing products specifically for the horticultural industry—we were never a commercial lighting manufacturer who jumped on the horticultural lighting bandwagon. Over the decades, we have delivered hundreds of thousands of horticultural luminaires to thousands of customers and have always been committed to partnering in our customers’ long-term success.

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We build quality products that we are proud to put our name on and that we know will stand up to the harsh conditions of a growing facility for many years. We build our products so well, that some joke our obsession with quality is bad for business (we have some customers who are still running their P.L. Light luminaires 30+ years after they bought them!).

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Some other advantages of working with P.L. Light Systems vs. our competitors include:

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• We produce product solutions across both HID and LED technologies, so we can deliver a lighting solution that best meets our customers’ needs vs. steering a customer to one technology over the other just to make a sale.

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• Reliable supply of inventory and products (those companies manufacturing their products offshore cannot claim the same)

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• Our products are of an exceptionally high quality

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• Dedicated account managers located across Canada and the USA

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• Local team of sales and customer service representatives with local knowledge of horticultural industry

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• A deep understanding of North American safety and electrical standards

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• Privately owned, so we can deliver a more personal level of service and more bespoke product offerings.

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How do you measure the impact of P.L. Light Systems so far? (Revenue, Employees, Customer Quantity, Production Volume) etc? 

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For us, the true measure of success is the continued long-term support of our customers. Our customers know that when they partner with us, they are investing in the peace of mind that they’re dealing with a reputable organization—offering decades of experience, backed up by local service and support. You’d be very hard pressed to find another lighting manufacturer who has earned the loyalty of their customers for 40+ years.

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Regarding the cannabis aspect, we remained firmly committed to the ”traditional crop” segment throughout the cannabis boom. This was a deliberate choice we made since our long-standing customers had shown their loyalty to us for many years. We were determined not to abandon them, unlike many of our competitors who succumbed to the allure of the cannabis industry and ultimately neglected the food and ornamental crop sector entirely. Thus, we made a conscious decision to enter the cannabis space, but not at the expense of our existing market. Currently, our portfolio is diversified across various crop types, reflecting our strategic approach.

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The retention of our employees is also a key focus for us—with an impressively low turnover rate. I was immediately drawn to this aspect upon joining the company. We actively seek to bring in individuals with diverse backgrounds and fresh perspectives from various industries. However, once people become part of our team, they tend to remain with us, which speaks volumes about our company culture and the trustworthy leadership of our management team.

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We currently have a team of office and manufacturing employees who work out of our Beamsville head office.. Our Regional Sales Managers are located across Canada & the USA, so they have a true understanding of their local customers’ needs and challenges.

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What have you learned that you wish you knew when you joined or started the company?

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I initially began my career on the advertising and branding agency side. However, prior to joining P.L. Light Systems, I spent five years at Philips Lighting, focusing on the commercial and architectural markets. Naturally, when I transitioned to my current position, I expected it to be a breeze. With my pre-existing knowledge of lighting, I assumed it would be a walk in the park. However, I soon realized that horticultural lighting is an entirely different game altogether. It involves a distinct mindset, development approach, and intent compared to what I was familiar with. It was a steep learning curve for sure.

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This revelation came as a surprise not only to me but also to many of our competitors. While the architectural, commercial, and outdoor lighting sectors have remained relatively stagnant, the horticulture industry is experiencing significant growth. Innovations are predominantly happening in the horticultural space. Other lighting companies, which have been producing lights for commercial applications for years, may assume that simply repurposing their existing luminaires will suffice for horticultural purposes. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

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The greenhouse environment is considerably harsh, with factors like sulfur, humidity, and high temperatures posing challenges. It necessitates products capable of withstanding such rigorous conditions, which typical lights would not endure. Furthermore, the way plants perceive light differs greatly from how the human eye does. This disparity further complicates the task at hand.

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Therefore, I strongly recommend choosing a lighting provider that specializes in horticultural lighting if you're in the market for such solutions. The disparity between horticultural lighting and other commercial luminaires is akin to using interior paint on a boat—they’re designed for two completely different scenarios.

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How can people connect with you or learn more about P.L. Light Systems?

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Anyone interested in learning more about P.L. Light Systems can visit our website at https://pllight.com or follow our social channels (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter). We also have a vault of knowledge-based articles available on our website, covering a host of horticultural lighting-related topics – from technical advice/tips to scientific research to lighting strategies for optimal yields.

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