SEATTLE, WA–(Marketwired – Sep 7, 2017) – CFN Media Group (“CannabisFN”), the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis, announces publication of an article that will take a detailed look at the grow light industry, why CMH and LED lighting is quickly becoming a necessity, and how investors can capitalize on these dynamics. The article also looks at SolisTek Inc.’s (OTCQB: SLTK) lighting products and strong financial performance over the past year.

The global cannabis grow light market is anticipated to reach $8.64 billion by 2025, according to Grand View Research, growing at a 14.1% compound annual growth rate. Artificial lighting, such as high-pressure sodium lighting, LED lighting, and plasma lighting, extends the hours of natural daylight to increase the health, growth rate, and yield of crops, particularly during times of the year when daylight may be limited or outdoor growing may be impossible.

Solis Tek Inc. is a vertically-integrated developer of cannabis grow lights and related products, with a focus on ballast, reflector, and lamp products. Its focus on an all-in-one solutions leveraging a scientific approach sets it apart from competitors in the space. With nearly $2.5 million in sales last quarter alone, the rapidly growing company is a compelling pure-play in the cannabis grow light industry.

Grow Lights 101- Old School

There are many different types of artificial lighting solutions, but high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting, LED lighting, and plasma lighting are the most popular. All of these lighting solutions emit photons within the photosynthetic waveband (400nm to 700nm) and are equally capable of driving photosynthesis and plant growth, according to MSU. But, there are important differences in light intensity, spectrum control, and efficiency that will impact quality, yield, and other factors.

Here’s a quick review on each type of lighting solution:

• HPS Lighting – The lowest cost and most ubiquitous form of artificial lighting for the cannabis industry. The drawback is that these solutions are energy inefficient and generate a lot of excess heat that, at times, must be mitigated.
• LED Lighting – The fastest growing form of artificial lighting for the cannabis industry, which is more energy efficient, generates less heat, and can be fine-tuned to produce crops with desirable characteristics like compact plugs and liners. The drawback is that LED lighting solutions tend to be about four to six times more expensive and they do not provide the intensity of light that HPS lighting solutions do, which can result in lower yields.
• Plasma Lighting – A new spin on an old technology that do not offer significant economic advantages over LED lighting. The key difference is that they are powered by a solid state source rather than a ballast, like HPS lighting.

Solis Tek is focused on a fourth lighting technology known as ceramic metal halide – or CMH – lighting. Unlike HPS lighting, they operate with a high level of efficiency of up to 111 lm/W with a highly controllable point source. Unlike LEDs, they have much greater intensity that can help improve yields. CMH lamps represent the “best of both worlds” in that they bridge the divide between HPS lighting solutions and LED lighting solutions.

Why Cannabis Needs a Change

Indoor cannabis production results in energy expenditures of $6 billion each year – six times that of the pharmaceutical industry – with electricity use equivalent to that of 1.7 million homes, according to recent studies. In fact, researchers estimate that the cannabis industry already accounts for about 1% of national electricity consumption, despite the fact that the drug hasn’t been legalized on a national level or across all states.

In addition to the financial costs, researchers estimate processed cannabis results in 4,600-times its weight in carbon dioxide emissions. Off-grid production requires 70 gallons of diesel fuel to produce a single indoor cannabis plant, or 140 gallons with smaller, less-efficient gasoline generators. Put another way, a single cannabis cigarette represents about ten pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. These are clear problems facing the industry.

Lighting represents a big part of the problem. Most grow operations use a 600W-MH (37.5 W/sf) MH lighting solution for the vegetative stage and a 1000W-HPS (62.5W/sf) HPS lighting solution for the flower stage. In addition to the cost of running the lights, HPS lights tend to generate a significant amount of heat. This means that grow rooms must also power air conditioning, fans, and other solutions to mitigate the heat issues.

Solis Tek Powers that Change

There are many different providers of LED and CMH lighting solutions, but only a handful are active within the burgeoning cannabis industry.

Solis Tek is credited with rolling out many innovations in the cannabis lighting sector. For instance, its digital ballasts are designed with Ignition Control™ sequential lamp ignition and self-diagnostic safety systems to ensure everything is running smoothly.

The company has pioneered a full-spectrum lighting solution comprised of a four-light system to facilitate the growth of healthier plants throughout the entire growth cycle. In addition, the company’s Ignition Control technology prevents surges and breaker overloads by igniting lamps one at a time based on load stability, while its SenseSmart™ technology is a pre-ignition diagnostic check of lights to ensure that the system is safe and operating correctly.

In addition to these lighting technologies, the company launched its terpene-enhancing nutrient line – Terpenez™ – which uses all-natural ingredients to increase yield, lower cost, and grow healthier plants. The company also launched a new lighting controller near the end of the quarter as a way to provide leading control capabilities to commercial and recreational growers and complement its existing product line-up.

Please follow the link to read the full article: http://www.cannabisfn.com/grow-lights-cannabis-grows-need-change/

For more information, visit the company’s website or CannabisFN’s company profile.

About CFN Media

CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading creative agency and media network dedicated to legal cannabis. We help marijuana businesses attract investors, customers (B2B, B2C), capital, and media visibility. Private and public marijuana companies and brands in the US and Canada rely on CFN Media to grow and succeed.

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Disclaimer:

Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CFN Media and CannabisFN.com, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Emerging Growth LLC may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/