LED Grow Light Engines for Microgreens Production
Commercial microgreens production is particularly well suited to modular LED lighting. Crops are grown densely in shallow trays, remain close to the growing surface throughout their short production cycle and are commonly stacked across multiple levels in vertical farms.
This makes PPFD uniformity, close-canopy efficiency, low-profile integration and system cost especially important.
At Lumistrips, we provide linear and rectangular LED light engines for microgreens production, ranging from ready-made LED strips and modules to configurable high-output LED bars and fully customized horticultural lighting systems.
More light for the crop. Less unnecessary hardware around it.
A Lumistrips light engine typically consists of:
LED strip or LED module + LED driver
Depending on the installation, it can also include an aluminium profile, optics, cables, connectors and a lighting controller.
Instead of purchasing an individually enclosed grow-light fixture for every position in a multi-level rack, the lighting components can be matched directly to the tray dimensions, shelf geometry, mounting height and target PPFD.
Microgreens are especially suited to this approach because commercial systems commonly position the LEDs only around 10–35 cm above the crop canopy, allowing photons to be generated close to where they are required.
A Modular Alternative to Conventional LED Grow Light Fixtures
Most commercial grow lights are supplied as complete fixtures containing the LEDs, housing, driver and associated mechanical components.
This is convenient, but across a vertical farm containing hundreds of growing levels it can also mean repeatedly purchasing components that could instead be shared or integrated into the growing structure.
Our modular approach separates the light-producing components from the supporting system.
Multiple LED strips or modules can, where the electrical design allows it, operate from appropriately sized common drivers and controllers. Profiles and optics are added where they provide a technical benefit.
For microgreens, this also allows the LED layout to follow the tray surface. Rather than concentrating all available PPF into a small number of fixtures, several linear light engines can be distributed across the shelf to improve photon utilization and PPFD uniformity.
Why our light engine is more efficient
Compared with a conventional fixture-based installation, a properly designed LED light engine system can provide:
More PPF for Your Lighting Budget
A larger share of the project budget can be invested directly in high-performance LEDs instead of individual fixture housings and duplicated electronics. This can provide more installed photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) per euro, particularly in large multi-level farms.
Easy Integration into Growing Systems
Grow lights can be installed directly beneath vertical-farming shelves, tray racks, propagation systems and modular growing structures. The lighting follows the growing geometry rather than requiring the rack to be designed around a fixed-size fixture.
More Photons Reaching the Crop
LEDs can be distributed according to the actual dimensions of the growing trays. With the correct positioning and optical design, a greater proportion of the emitted photons are directed toward the cultivation surface while achieving the required PPFD and uniformity.
Designed Around the Grower's Needs
Grow lights can be installed directly beneath vertical-farming shelves, tray racks, propagation systems and modular growing structures. The lighting follows the growing geometry rather than requiring the rack to be designed around a fixed-size fixture.
Competitive System Cost
Several LED light engines can be powered and controlled together using appropriately sized professional components. Fewer individual housings, drivers and controllers mean fewer duplicated components, which becomes increasingly important across hundreds or thousands of cultivation trays.
Made in Germany for Leading Reliability
We manufacture the light engine in Germany using LEDs from leading manufacturers such as Nichia, Cree LED, ams OSRAM and Lumileds. The modular architecture allows for components to be replaced separately, helping reduce lifetime maintenance and operating costs.
Lifetime you can specify, and audit
Microgreens lighting commonly operates for long daily photoperiods, so LED operating temperature and drive current have a direct influence on long-term performance.
With a modular light engine, the LED type, LED quantity, operating current and thermal design can be specified as part of the system rather than treated as hidden parameters inside a sealed fixture.
Where longer service life is a priority, we can increase LED density and operate the individual LEDs more conservatively. Published lifetime and reliability data from the LED manufacturer can then be evaluated together with the actual operating conditions of the light engine.
For commercial farms, this provides a more transparent approach to balancing initial system cost, photon output and long-term operating life.
Ready-Made LED Grow Lights for Small Microgreens Projects
(plant areas below approximately 30 m²)
Small vertical farms, research installations, restaurants, propagation areas and compact indoor growing systems can be built using our existing LED strips and modules.
Configurable LED Grow Light Bars for
Medium Microgreens Projects
(for plant areas up to approximately 250 m²)
Medium-size vertical farms and commercial multi-level growing rooms often require more photon output per linear metre than standard flexible LED strips can provide.
For these projects, we offer configurable MaxLine aluminium LED strips using Nichia Hortisolis horticultural white LEDs.
The aluminium PCB provides an efficient thermal path into a suitable profile or heatsink and supports higher operating power than a standard flexible PCB.
The modules are supplied in 280 mm sections and can be arranged according to the dimensions of the growing shelf.
Illustrative LED component cost per growing tray
For a standard 2.4 × 1.2 m vertical-farm tray, an indicative LED strip or module cost is approximately €650–€830 per tray at qualifying project quantities.
This estimate is based on a design objective of approximately 200 µmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ average PPFD at crop-canopy level. The final product quantity and layout depend on mounting height, LED spacing, optical distribution, required uniformity, surrounding reflectance and the dimensions of the plantable area.
Important: This is a non-binding component-cost example, not a quotation for a complete installed lighting system.
Fully Custom LED Grow Light Systems for
Large Microgreens Farms
(for large-scale projects, generally above 500 m²)
Large vertical farms, automated growing facilities and OEM cultivation systems require a lighting solution designed around the complete installation rather than an individual LED product.
For these applications, we develop fully customized linear or rectangular LED light engines.
The design can include the LEDs, spectrum, PCB, module dimensions, optics, thermal interface, profiles, drivers and control system.
Choose the LED Technology
We work with horticultural and general-lighting LEDs from leading manufacturers, including:
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Nichia
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Cree LED
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ams OSRAM
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Lumileds
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Seoul Semiconductor
This gives us the flexibility to select LEDs according to the required spectrum, photon efficacy, output, lifetime, package size, optical compatibility and project budget.
For white-light systems, options include specialist horticultural white LEDs such as Nichia Hortisolis, high-efficiency white LEDs and high-colour-rendering CRI 95 solutions. Dedicated deep-red, blue and far-red LEDs can be added when a multi-channel or crop-specific spectrum is required.
Select the Spectrum Strategy
The spectrum can be configured for the lettuce cultivar, production stage and control strategy.
Available approaches include:
Red + Blue | A narrow-spectrum approach for applications in which visual working light is not a priority and the spectral design is intentionally limited to selected red and blue wavelengths. | |
White + Red + Deep-red | A configurable solution for projects that require a broader spectrum and separate control of deep/far-red radiation. | |
White + Red + Blue | A multi-channel system providing independent control over important spectral regions while maintaining useful white light for workers and crop inspection. | |
White + Deep red | A white base combined with efficient deep-red photons. The two channels can be operated together or controlled separately, depending on the system design. | |
White | A practical solution for crop growth, visual inspection and comfortable working conditions. White light simplifies the lighting architecture while covering the visible spectrum with a single LED type. |
Choose the PCB Construction
The PCB is selected according to power density, module geometry, thermal requirements and installation method.
Flexible PCB | Manufactured using our reel-to-reel process for long, lightweight LED strips that can be cut, arranged or integrated into custom structures. | |
Aluminium PCB | Recommended for higher-power linear modules that require an efficient thermal path into an aluminium profile or heatsink. | |
Rigid FR4 PCB | Suitable for large rectangular modules, multi-row matrices and applications in which the LEDs must be distributed over a broad surface. |
Design the
physical format
The physical format of the LED light engine should follow the shape of the cultivation area.
Linear LED strips and bars
are well suited to:
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Multi-tray vertical farming shelves
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Long rack systems
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Propagation shelves
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Container farms
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Automated tray systems
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OEM cultivation equipment
Several parallel light engines can be arranged across the shelf width to optimize PPFD uniformity.
Rectangular and Multi-Row LED Modules
are well suited to:
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Individual 600 × 400 mm trays
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1200 × 800 mm growing surfaces
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Wide shelves
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Research installations
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Modular growing cells
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Cultivation areas requiring highly distributed light
The PCB dimensions, LED arrangement and connection points can all be customized.
Optical Control Where It Adds Value
Secondary optics are not required in every microgreens installation.
Because the LEDs are often positioned relatively close to the crop, a correctly designed distribution of bare LED sources can provide excellent coverage without additional lenses.
Where shelf width, mounting height or mechanical constraints require greater optical control, we can integrate horticultural optics from LEDiL.
Optics can be used to:
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Spread photons across wider trays
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Improve edge-to-edge PPFD uniformity
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Reduce light outside the growing surface
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Compensate for greater mounting distances
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Adapt the beam to asymmetric cultivation areas
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Potentially reduce the number of LED bars required
Optical selection should always be evaluated together with LED spacing and mounting geometry.
Profiles and Thermal Management
Efficient thermal management supports LED output, stability and lifetime.
We can supply aluminium profiles from our existing range or source project-specific profiles for customized systems.
Depending on the installation, the profile can:
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Transfer heat away from the LED PCB
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Provide mechanical support
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Create mounting points
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Protect wiring
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Hold covers or optics
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Simplify installation beneath the shelf
Where the growing rack itself provides a suitable mechanical and thermal interface, unnecessary housing components can be omitted.
Protection Against Humidity and Water
Microgreens facilities typically combine irrigation, elevated humidity and regular cleaning, but the required protection level depends on the actual installation.
The design should consider:
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Position of the LEDs relative to irrigation
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Condensation risk
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Humidity
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Cleaning method
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Direct splash exposure
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Wash-down requirements
Where direct water exposure is limited, an aluminium profile and cover may provide a practical solution without completely encapsulating the LEDs.
Where direct water exposure or wash-down cleaning is expected, protected or waterproof LED constructions can be developed.
The objective is to provide the protection the installation actually requires without unnecessarily increasing thermal resistance, optical losses and system cost.
Drivers, Dimming and Lighting Control
We design both constant-voltage and constant-current lighting systems.
Several LED modules or bars can be grouped on appropriately selected professional drivers, reducing the need for a separate power supply at every growing level.
Available functions can include:
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On/off switching
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Manual or central dimming
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Zone control
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Multi-channel spectrum control
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Integration with vertical-farm controllers
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Separate control of white, red, blue or far-red channels
Dimming is particularly valuable for microgreens farms.
A lighting platform capable of approximately 200–250 µmol/m²/s can be operated at lower output for species requiring less light, allowing several crop categories to use the same hardware platform.
One Lighting Platform for Different Lettuce Production Systems
Our LED strips, modules and custom light engines can be adapted to several controlled-environment agriculture configurations.
Vertical farming racks
Low-profile linear bars can be installed beneath each cultivation level. Their dimensions and spacing can follow the shelf width and plant layout, while centralized drivers can serve multiple bars or zones.
Propagation shelves
Lower-output flexible strips or configurable modules can be used for seedlings and young plants where compact dimensions and uniformity are more important than maximum photon output.
Container Farms
Compact light engines are particularly useful where vertical space is limited. The lighting can be integrated closely into the rack structure to maximize usable cultivation height.
Greenhouse supplemental
Custom linear or rectangular modules can be integrated into greenhouse structures with minimal obstruction of natural sunlight. The driver and control system can be designed around larger lighting zones rather than individual fixtures.
Modular Farms
Rectangular modules or multiple parallel bars can cover custom cultivation areas and distribute photons across the complete raft.
OEM cultivation equipment
We develop LED light engines for manufacturers of growing racks, hydroponic systems, climate chambers, plant research equipment and automated cultivation systems.
From Photon Output to
Canopy-Level Performance
PPF describes the total photosynthetic photon output of an LED strip or module. However, microgreens respond to the PPFD arriving at the cultivation surface.
The final PPFD distribution depends on:
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Total PPF
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Illuminated area
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Number and spacing of LED strips
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Distance from the LEDs to the canopy
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LED beam distribution
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Presence of optics
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Reflective surfaces
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Edge losses
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Crop height and canopy development
For this reason, selecting a product only by watts, lumens or even total PPF is not sufficient.
A high-output LED bar can still create poor results if the bars are too far apart, while several moderate-output bars may provide better uniformity and more usable light across the complete growing surface.
Our modular system gives designers the freedom to distribute the photon output where it is needed instead of concentrating it inside a small number of conventional fixtures.
What We Need to Design Your Microgreens Lighting System
To recommend an existing product or develop a customized solution, we normally evaluate:
Project information and Why it matters
Project information
Total plant area
Number of cultivation levels
Shelf, tray or bed dimensions
Distance to the crop canopy
Target Spectrum and PPFD
Determines the scale of the lighting system
Defines the actual illuminated area
Defines the actual illuminated area
Determines the light engine format
Influences PPFD and uniformity
Establishes the required photon output
Photoperiod and DLI
Microgreens species
Indoor or greenhouse installation
Temperature and ventilation
Humidity and cleaning method
Dimming and control requirements
Installation capabilities
Links PPFD to the daily light delivered
Influences the lighting strategy
Determines whether lighting is sole-source or supplemental
Influences thermal design
Determines the required protection concept
Defines the driver and channel architecture
Determines the appropriate level of assembly
Based on this information, we can recommend an existing product or develop a custom light engine
matched to the project.
Build the Lighting System Around the Farm—not the Fixture
Microgreens production is inherently modular.
A commercial vertical farm may contain hundreds of identical trays repeated across multiple growing levels. The lighting system should follow the same logic.
With Lumistrips, LED strips, bars or rectangular modules can be distributed according to the actual tray dimensions, mounting height, required PPFD and uniformity target.
Choose a ready-made LED strip for a compact installation, configure a high-output aluminium bar for a medium-size facility, or work with us to develop a fully customized light engine for large-scale microgreens production.
Tell us your tray and shelf dimensions, number of cultivation levels, LED-to-canopy distance and target PPFD. We will help identify the LED modules, drivers, profiles, optics and control components required for the project.
Contact Our Engineering Team
LUMISTRIPS
Hechingen, Germany
Kwun Tong, Hong Kong
Ramnicu Valcea, Romania
+40.729.850.710