I forgot to operate the system and came home to find that the temperature inside the plant factory became abnormal…

Hello everyone! I’m Shohei.
This column is about what I felt and experienced at a plant factory in Japan.

When you’ve been in the field for over 10 years, a lot of things happen. I write freely about what I remember.

Please feel free to read it while thinking, “Wow, that’s how Japanese plant factories work.”

I forgot to operate the system and came home to find that the temperature inside the plant factory became abnormal…

One day, I was testing the environmental control system at a newly built factory.

My job that day is to spend the day checking the operation of systems such as air conditioning and lighting. We need to make sure there are no problems before the facility starts operating.

As a result of checking, there were no particular problems with the system, and we completed all tests in the evening. Then, I finished my work for the day and went home.

However, as I was relaxing at home, a worrying thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“Oh, did you turn off the lights in the cultivation room…?”

I was the only person working that day, and no one else was in the facility. Therefore, we cannot ask anyone to confirm it.
However, fortunately, the system was able to be connected externally, so I was able to check it right from home.

“I left it on after all! I’m glad you noticed!”
“Hmm…?”

I was relieved for a moment, but then I saw the temperature display.

“Eh, 50 degrees!?”

50 degrees is the limit value for temperature display. The actual temperature should have been higher. Since it was a small facility, the heat from the lights alone must have caused the temperature to rise to this level. This is bad. I quickly turned off the lights and turned on the air conditioning. The temperature soon dropped, and nothing happened.

Since it was a new facility, they weren’t growing any crops, but I shudder to think of it being a growing facility. Crops are wiped out at 50 degrees.

This column was published in a collection of know-how to improve on-site skills.

This column is included in the Plant Factory Know-How Collection below.

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This is a must-read for those operating plant factories or indoor farms. Implement the know-how to increase profitability.