Dole Food Co. Converts to LED

Feb 11, 2019
Dole Food Co. Converts to LED

In another sign of the increasing use of LEDs in industrial settings, Dole Food Co. announced a switch to LED lighting at much of its mammoth salad-packaging plant in Bessemer City, NC. The fresh fruit and vegetable company completed the project earlier this year at its 285,000-sq ft site, converting from incandescent lighting to LED luminaires from LEDtronics.

“This was the first installation of LED technology for Dole, and the results are fantastic,” said Chris Houser, maintenance supervisor at the Dole Fresh Vegetables plant that ships roughly 750,000 packages of salad greens per day in the southern and eastern U.S.

The successful pilot launched with initial test samples in August 2016. The project called for an order of 365 LEDtronics retrofit kits and 105 high-bay fixtures that enabled Dole to nearly double illumination on the plant floor while halving lighting cost. The company also installed 28 wallpacks and 30 thin ceiling panels.

“We now have a much brighter and safer environment in the warehouse and production areas,” Houser said. “That’s on top of the cost savings with converting to LED lighting.” Being able to install the entire order using in-house staff added to the cost-effectiveness.