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38 years in the industry

"We let our customers focus on their end products without the IP concerns"

Cree LED has launched its XLamp XP-L Photo Red S Line - a high-performance LED component tailored specifically for plant growth applications. With a 660-nanometer peak wavelength and improved efficiency in the industry-standard 3535 footprint, the new release reflects a broader strategic push by the company into horticultural markets.

"It's the next generation to our original XP-G3 S Line Photo Red LEDs," says Morgan Meadows Davis, Product Manager at Cree LED. "Larger LES, higher output, and improved efficiency, all in a footprint that our customers already trust."

One feature that adds to the appeal of Cree LED's latest offering is the design flexibility it provides lighting manufacturers. "Our goal is to make integration as seamless as possible," Davis explains. "By removing common roadblocks in the design process, we give OEMs the freedom to innovate and bring products to market faster and with greater confidence."

© CREE LED
Natalie Svedberg from Heliospectra and Morgan Meadows Davis

© CREE LEDCollaborative design and targeted development
Cree LED works closely with lighting manufacturers to tailor its components to real-world needs. "We're not making end products (lighting fixtures), we're helping manufacturers design fixtures that meet the performance and spectrum demands of growers. We provide tools to help with simulations and LEDs; they build the systems."

Customer feedback is central to their innovation cycle. A notable example came when growers began reporting sulphur corrosion in greenhouse environments. "That led us to develop our S Line LEDs with maximum sulphur resistance," she says. "Listening to what's happening on the ground helps us engineer better components."

Focused growth in horticulture
Though traditionally known for industrial lighting components, Cree LED has significantly expanded its horticultural portfolio in recent years. "We went from having two or three products that were horticulture-suitable to a full suite of both high-power and mid-power products," Morgan says. "It's been an intentional effort to support growers and manufacturers with more targeted, efficient options."

The shift was accelerated after Cree LED's 2021 acquisition by Smart Global Holdings (now Penguin Solutions). Operating under a fab-light model which designs components in-house while partnering globally for manufacturing, has enabled the company to zero in on growth sectors like agriculture.

© Eelkje Pulley | VerticalFarmDaily.com
Yoong Jin Hu, Morgan Meadows-Davis and Mark Pinkney at Greentech Amsterdam 2025

Responding to a changing market
"The pace of change in horticultural lighting has been incredible," she reflects. "We've definitely seen an acceleration, despite challenges like tariffs and energy costs." A key driver of this shift has been the move from high-pressure sodium lamps to LED technology, aided by government incentives and a deeper industry understanding of LED efficiency.

Cree LED is poised to stay ahead by blending technical innovation with practical considerations for manufacturers. "We're building LEDs that solve real problems – and letting our customers focus on their end products without the IP concerns."

As the company nears its 40th anniversary in 2027, its sights remain fixed on making components that enable better, faster, and more compliant solutions for the lighting industry.

For more information:
Cree LED
Morgan Meadows Davis, Product Manager
morgan.meadowsdavis@cree-led.com
cree-led.com/