There's a new player on the horticultural glass market. NSG Group, which is known for being a large supplier of glass for the architectural, automotive and technical glass sectors, has launched a new range of glass products focused specifically on the horticultural market.
"Our new Pilkington Botanical range comprises of glass-based solutions aimed at boosting crop growth or dealing with the issues faced by growers", the team says. "It offers qualities of our tried, trusted and durable products like Pilkington Optifloat and Pilkington Optiwhite glass alongside innovative durable coatings on glass."
The optimisation of light entering the greenhouse is a high priority for maximising crop yields. According to the NSG team, the Pilkington Botanical range offers products that preserve or even boost the light transmission.
"To evaluate and optimise lighting conditions it is important to consider both direct light and light under different angles of incidence. We are focused on maintaining a high hemispherical transmission (a more accurate measurement for photosynthetic active light entering through the glass) on all products in the Pilkington Botanical range", they say.
The range provides a solution for greenhouses, conservatories and winter gardens. It includes a wide range of glass solutions dedicated to protect, enhance and facilitate better propagation and crop growth, as well as options to toughen, bend or laminate.
"Pilkington Optifloat Clear already has an impressive 91% light transmission but this can be boosted further by opting for the low iron Pilkington Optiwhite glass or by using the Pilkington HortiGrow range which uses durable anti-reflective coatings on one or both sides of the glass to boost the transmission up to a potential 98%", the team concludes.
The NSG Group is looking to develop new products to introduce to this versatile range based on the needs of the customer. Additional functionality such as light diffusion and coatings that ensure that the glass stays cleaner for longer between costly cleaning cycles can also be added.
Coatings and surfaces can be fine-tuned based on specific requirements. The diverse nature of plants and crops and varying climates means that no single solution will fit all. "We are encouraging growers and specifiers to get in touch so the needs of their individual project can be discussed and supported", the NGS team says.
For more information:
NSG Group
botanical@pilkington.com
botanical.pilkington.com