With a production of almost 3 million plants per year, of which about 50% are artichokes, the Italian company Microplant, based in Cesena in the Emilia-Romagna region, needed to expand and improve its propagation laboratory. "It's been fully operational for a few weeks now," says Mauro Masini, one of the owners of the family-run company. "It will allow us to improve and increase our production process."
Processing steps in the meristem lab at Microplant
Microplant's partner is C-LED, a company specializing in lighting technology. "We have been working with Microplant for several years," said Raffaello Montanari, C-LED Sales Manager, and Cristian D'Elia, C-LED Technical Advisor, "and we were honored to contribute to this new project. We have supplied the lights for the micropropagation laboratory in the past and we are glad to have met Microplant's new requirements, both in terms of the characteristics of the lights and the delivery time of the material. These lights have a high IP rating and will be one of the key tools in ensuring consistent, high-quality production, as they will allow the company to regulate the light intensity available to the young plants."
Founded in 1965, Microplant has evolved over the years. "In 2006, we created the meristematic laboratory for plant propagation. We produce micro propagated virus-free plants of horticultural, fruit, and ornamental crops," explains Masini. Our core product is the artichoke, with about ten varieties that we sell not only in Italy but also abroad, for example in Spain. On the other hand, 30 percent of our production is made up of rootstocks (actinidia, olives, small fruits, vines, ornamental plants, potatoes, ginger), which are also exported abroad."
Control panel
"With the new growth cell," Masini continues, "we will be able to work 12 months a year, regardless of the weather. The goal is to be efficient and to be able to respond to customer needs in any situation. Growing artichokes, for example, is not easy. However, we have gained experience over the years that allows us to be an excellent supplier to farms. We have well-rooted and acclimatized plants that are healthy, safe, and certified, with full traceability. We employ about 24 people throughout the year."
From left to right: Raffaello Montanari, Sales Manager of C-LED, Mauro Masini, Manager of Microplant, and Cristian D'Elia, Technical Contact of C-LED
"For some years now, Microplant has also been a reference point for the training of young entrepreneurs entering the micropropagation sector: every year, the company hosts the hands-on teaching phase of the course, demonstrating and describing the processes and agronomic practices involved, and for this reason too, we at C-LED are proud to be Microplant's partner," conclude Montanari and D'Elia.
For more information:
C-LED
Via Gambellara, 34
40026 - Imola (BO) - Italy
+39 0542 654980
info@c-led.it
www.c-led.it
Microplant 
Via San Cristoforo 2135
47522 Cesena - Italy
+39 0547 317319
+39 3471050539
masinimauro@microplant.it
www.microplant.it