Cree LED, a Penguin Solutions brand (Nasdaq: PENG), and SANlight GmbH of Schruns, Austria, have announced a strategic partnership that brings together two global leaders in horticultural lighting technology. Under this collaboration, SANlight will integrate Cree LED’s high-performance J Series® LEDs into its newly developed STIXX-Series luminaires—an innovative lighting platform engineered specifically for compact growing environments and next-generation controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) systems.
The partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward more efficient, resilient, and spectrum-optimized lighting solutions that support the evolving needs of professional growers. As demand for sustainable food production continues to rise, technologies that combine strong energy efficiency with tailored light distribution are becoming essential components of modern horticulture. The STIXX-Series aims to meet this demand by offering a slim, robust fixture with exceptional optical and electrical performance—attributes made possible in large part by Cree LED’s J Series® technology.
Designed for Performance in Space-Constrained Environments
The new STIXX luminaires are engineered for environments where traditional fixtures may be too bulky or difficult to integrate. Whether used in vertical farming racks, indoor propagation units, or beneath dense crop canopies, the STIXX-Series offers growers a flexible lighting tool that supports both quality and yield. The fixtures deliver a module efficiency of up to 3.1 μmol/J, placing them among the most energy-efficient solutions available in compact horticultural systems.
A major advantage of the STIXX design is its ability to maintain high efficiency without sacrificing durability. Backed by LM-80 testing and TM-21 projections, the fixtures offer lifetimes that exceed 53,000 hours. This level of reliability ensures that growers benefit from consistent lighting performance over multiple crop cycles, reducing both maintenance and replacement costs. For facilities operating year-round, such longevity translates into measurable operational savings.
Advanced Optics and Environmental Protection
One of the standout features of the STIXX-Series is its advanced secondary optics. These optics are designed to deliver light with maximum precision, ensuring that the photons reach the crop canopy exactly where they are needed. Uniformity is critical in professional horticulture: uneven lighting can lead to inconsistent growth, variations in plant morphology, and inefficient energy use. SANlight’s optical architecture addresses these challenges by optimizing light distribution, minimizing losses, and providing the uniform, diffused illumination required for both vegetative and generative growth stages.
In addition to improving optical performance, the lenses fully encapsulate and protect the underlying LEDs. As a result, the fixtures achieve an IP68 rating, offering complete resistance to dust and prolonged water exposure. This level of environmental protection makes the STIXX-Series suitable for demanding agricultural conditions, including high moisture environments, frequent cleaning procedures, or areas where irrigation systems create heavy humidity or direct water contact. For commercial growers, durability is just as important as intensity or spectrum, and SANlight’s design ensures resilience in virtually any production setting.
A Partnership Rooted in Innovation and Agricultural Expertise
Both companies emphasize that this collaboration is driven not only by complementary technologies but also by shared values in sustainability, innovation, and grower-centric design.
Joe Clark, president of Cree LED, highlighted the natural synergy between the two organizations. “With Cree LED’s leadership in LEDs and established track record in optimizing solutions for horticulture, this partnership with SANlight is a natural fit,” he said. Clark noted that SANlight’s deep understanding of photobiology and plant physiology enhances the output of Cree LED’s engineering-driven technology platform. “SANlight brings a deep understanding of photobiology and a commitment to sustainable agronomy – both of which align perfectly with our mission to enable breakthrough lighting performance for growers worldwide,” he said.
SANlight CEO Martin Anker emphasized that choosing Cree LED as a technology partner reinforces the company’s commitment to precision and quality. “Innovation, precision and quality are at the heart of SANlight, and choosing Cree LED as our technology partner ensures that every grower can experience lighting that maximizes yield and efficiency,” said Anker. He added that the optimized full spectrum delivered by the new STIXX fixtures supports strong growth across all stages of plant development. “The optimized full spectrum supports vigorous growth and healthy plant structure throughout both the vegetative and generative phases,” he explained.
By aligning Cree LED’s semiconductor expertise with SANlight’s horticultural design capabilities, the collaboration promises to set new standards for energy-efficient and spectrum-tuned luminaires in professional growing environments.
Modular, Versatile, and Built for Modern Growing Systems
The STIXX-Series is built around a modular architecture, allowing it to adapt easily to a wide variety of production layouts. Growers can configure the fixtures as:
- Toplighting, providing broad, uniform illumination from above
- Undercanopy lighting, improving light penetration for dense crops
- Vertical farming rack lighting, where slim form factors and precision optics are essential
- Supplemental edge lighting, supporting crops that require balanced lighting from multiple angles
This flexibility is especially valuable as the horticulture industry continues to diversify. From cannabis cultivation and leafy greens to specialty crops and research environments, the STIXX-Series offers a customizable lighting solution that can meet the specific photon distribution requirements of each unique growing system.
Furthermore, the luminaires are engineered to operate efficiently at both low and high intensities. This enables growers to match output to each growth stage—whether low-intensity light for propagation and early vegetative development, or higher intensities needed during flowering, fruiting, or biomass accumulation. By optimizing energy use through targeted output, the system helps reduce electricity costs—one of the largest expenses in controlled-environment agriculture.
Showcasing Innovation at MJBizCon
SANlight will publicly present the STIXX-Series at MJBizCon, the global cannabis industry’s leading B2B event, taking place December 2–5, 2025, in Las Vegas. Attendees visiting booth #N15014 will have an opportunity to see the new fixtures firsthand and explore how the Cree LED–SANlight partnership is shaping the next generation of high-efficiency horticultural lighting.
MJBizCon offers an ideal platform for unveiling the STIXX-Series, as the cannabis sector places heavy emphasis on precision lighting due to the crop’s sensitivity to spectrum, uniformity, and intensity. By introducing the STIXX fixtures at this venue, SANlight is positioning the product line as a solution for commercial growers seeking to optimize quality, reduce operating costs, and improve environmental resilience.
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