Livingshade in the past has had a good representation in the Specifying Market for the Svensson fabrics, in the coming months Livingshade will go back to the Specifying, Building and Contractor market in Melbourne with our Solutions Folder, this folder provides solutions to Large glass facades, 3 to 5.5 metre wide windows, Skylights, Climate Control and external shading options.

Specifying Dynamics have been working with livingshade for over 12 months in the Sydney Market promoting the livingshade Solutions. Including the ability to create a single blind up to 40m in length, ercoZIP a patented side channel system that can be used internally, externally in Skylights. The benefits of this system compared to the competitors is the patented profile and inner rail, the profile dimensions are 33mm x 28mm allowing for sleek and elegant as well as versatile.

Livingshade still offers the Svensson fabric range that combine Swedish taste and technology with an IMO rating.

As a manufacturer and wholesaler of these systems and Solutions, livingshade provides education and knowledge to the Specifying Market and Distributors to ensure they are able to provide their clients with the best possible solutions for each project.

The heat combined with the sun, devastates most flowering crops even when there is plenty of water. The flowers become burnt and often the new flush (the rapid flower growth) is wiped out, causing more work, lost production and lower income.

Then we have a week of rain which produces lower light and slow growth.

Today’s modern grower manages this problem with aluminium screens that are closed when the light and heat are too much and opened on cloudy days (as well as mornings, afternoons and winter days).

Controlling the light and temperature is money in the bank!

Dutch growers are among the best in the world and they achieve impressive growth despite low light levels.

When the days are shorter not enough light is being absorbed, alternatively on hot summer days the plants could absorb too much light which could burn the plants.

The light your plants receive not only depends on the day but also the type of shade cloth that is used. Depending on your greenhouse you could be reducing the amount of light your plants receive which results in poor growth and lost income.

Manage the light in your greenhouse to increase plant growth and profits.

To find out more about managing light contact us today!

Measuring the light with PAR meters is essential to optimise production. PAR measures from 380 to 750Nm which is the total light plants use.

The LUX measurement only basically measures the light intensity or as a comparison, if photons were rain drops, LUX meters would show you the intensity of a rainstorm. A few minutes rainstorm may be impressive but often provides less water then an all day drizzle.

General response curve of net photosynthetic rate of plant leaves to increasing light intensity

Today light is measured as the total quantity for plants to perform photosynthesis per day and is measured in moles/m² per day. This is called the Daily Light Integral or DLI.

Generally the net photosynthesis rate of a growing plant increase as the light increases until the saturation point is reached, after this the extra light may result in burning, reduced quality and waste water and nutrients.

In Australia we find most growers in fact use too little light for indoor crops. Structures and shade block the light in winter, mornings, afternoons, cloudy and rainy days. Limiting the ability to attain higher light levels when light is needed. This results in slower growth and poorer quality and reduced income.

Cumulative Light (DLI)

Light Transmission, measure sensor at crop level

Each type of plant has a different DLI range for optimal growth and this should be supplied to you from your plant or seed supplier. Spectrum in the USA provides measurement equipment to show you the light achieved and then you can compare this to the plants requirements.

Modern growers today use Svensson aluminium/polyester screens to manage the light either inside or on outside structures and many growers now use 2 or 3 levels of screens. Adapting a DLI system quantifying the accumulated light a crop needs, can then be combined with the temperature and relative humidity information, so you can best manage the crop to maximise quality, production and profit.

 Information supplied by Livingshade Pty Ltd & Spectrum Instruments

Now holding a TEKO Product of the Year 2010 and Interior Innovation Award 2011 these products have been recognised by expects in their fields as providing reduced energy consumption and meets market demands for functionality and aesthetics.

What the TEKO judges said about the products

The Swedish product awarded this prize will be marked by commercial success and innovation in materials, technology or markets. Environmental values, design and technological design and severity are other criteria that form the basis for the jury.

Among previous winners are products that lattice, tennis flooring, air conditioning, sports socks, hand tufted carpet and acoustic attenuation. The 2010 tea product was AB Ludvig Svensson, UPS & DOWNS GENERATION second The jury commented: “UPS & DOWNS GENERATION 2 is climate-friendly fabrics that meet market demands for functionality and aesthetics. By use of this Swedish-made textile products reduces energy consumption significantly. UPS & DOWNS GENERATION 2 is so designed that the need for both cooling and heating is reduced. In addition, UPS & DOWNS by their characteristics of light transmission contribute to an improved light environment. Better ergonomics is an important safety issue. UPS & DOWNS is a proof that a long textile development work with new technology rewarded by a number of installations in Sweden and abroad. ”

Interior Innovation Award at imm cologne 2011 and LivingKitchen

The Interior Innovation Award is one of the most prestigious awards of the furnishing sector world-wide and was launched in 2002 by imm cologne, which provides the idea behind the competition. The organiser is the German Design Council.

Through this competition imm cologne and the German Design Council have succeeded in creating an effective tool for corporate positioning and product differentiation for the interior furnishings market. The Interior Innovation Award appraises top innovations in all product areas of this sector of industry.

In January 2011 the Ups & Downs collection (second generation) was also named one of the winners of the Interior Innovation Award.

For more information on these energy efficient textiles visit here 

Looking for the difference, its in the detail.

Glydea TM provides aesthetic design that hides the cabling and protects the connectors, reducing light gaps and allowing the curtain to fall perfectly.

Glydea TM has a variety of components to adapt to different curtain types and Somfy innovation plug and play.

Glydea TM is quiet  (<44 dB (A)) with soft start and stop, adjustable speed and robust design, with Somfy Innovation: Lyrease mechanical system which automatically disengages the motor drive shaft for manual operation preserving the fabric.

Glydea TM is Somfy quality and comes with a 5 year international warranty.

For further details contact livingshade.

livingshade has made a strategic change in direction and needs warehouse space.  This means our prices are at cost on the enclosed fabric’s.

To make this an attractive offer livingshade is willing to sell the complete stock at 10% less than the stated cost price, otherwise items will be sold in quantity amounts or rolls only.

This offer is only available with existing stock stated on this page, samples available on request. Stock is in good condition and sold as is no refunds or returns.

For further details contact livingshade office on 02 9477 6955 or email sales@livingshade.com.au

What we humans see is strongest in the 500-600NM area. What plants see is the PAR range from 400-700NM. So what you think is best for the plants, may not be best for them at all. The answer is to use a PAR meter that will show you the quantity and quality of light coming in on DLI.

DLI is the daily light integral

This measures the amount PAR light the crop receives per day.  Then knowing what the plant requires, will tell you of there is too little or too much light.

Plan for the brightest day!

The DLI measurements will tell you when and how much to shade. This is done in conjunction with temperature so you will be will underway to optimise production.

To take the best and leave the rest use: “Weather Tracker” instruments.

For 24 hour monitoring, use the DLI 100.

For 1 year logging use the 305 Tracker.

For more information either email info@livingshade.com.au, call us 02 9477 6955 or Skype Livingshade11

Your plant supplier should be able to give you the amount of light your plants need each day. This is called the Daily Light Integral or D.I.L.

By optimising the amount of light your plants receive, your crop will increase growth, quality and profit. In the past there have only been Lux Meters available measuring the light that we see which is mostly around the 500 NM to 650 NM range. However, plants need a total solar load measurement ranging between 380 NM to 700NM. There are currently light meters readily available in easy, single use form that can also be used for more sophisticated measurements.

The measurement provided by the meter is in moles/m² and shows the light your crop receives in DIL form. With this knowledge you can “feel like your plants” and manage the climate to their needs.

Our experience is that most growers have little idea about this and do not optimise the light for the crop; therefore losing growth and income.

Now you can “take the best and leave the rest.”

For further details call us at Livingshade Pty Ltd.