Toshiba to manufacture GaN-on-silicon LEDs

Toshiba has finalised a technology collaborative agreement with LED lighting device manufacturer Bridgelux. Originally announced in April, the collaborative agreement will see the companies transfer Bridgelux’s gallium nitride (GaN) on silicon technology assets to Toshiba.The GaN-on-Silicon LED collaboration will also include a licensing and manufacturing supply relationship between the companies.

LEDs in greenhouses deliver same yield as grow lights

LED lights may soon enable greenhouse growers to grow affordable, vine-ripened tomatoes and other produce items much closer to the market, enabling more local food production, especially in the northern latitudes. The results of a Purdue University study show that by using LED lights instead of the conventional high pressure sodium (HPS) lights for growing tomatoes in greenhouses, growers could get the same yields of fruit from the plants using just 25% of the energy required with current methods.

Thai market shines bright at LED Expo Thailand 2013

Over 200 LED lighting suppliers including 80 from overseas will introduce their latest technology to local and regional buyers, home and industrial sectors at the LED Expo Thailand 2013, scheduled from May 23-25, 2013 at Hall 4 - IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.
Of those 200 LED exhibitors, China and Taiwan represent the biggest number of overseas suppliers who will be showcasing energy efficient lighting products. There are also exhibitors from India, Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore as well as multi-national and domestic entrepreneurs joining the show to tap into local markets which are expected grow significantly. Exhibits on display include LED Applications and Lighting, LED Lighting Products, LED Products, LED Signage and Display, LED Components, accessories and raw materials, LED Drivers and power supply, LED Manufacturing equipment and machinery. Companies and brands who will be exhibiting include ICE-LED, Philips, GE Lighting, Toshiba Lighting, OSRAM, DEE Lighting, Ligman, Everlight, Evelighting, Racer Electric, Lekise, Lighting & Equipment (L&E), and Havell Sylvania just to name a few.
According to The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Thailand’s lighting market is valued at 7 billion baht in 2011, with an annual growth of 4% from the previous year. LED lighting accounts for 12% of the total lighting market, and this is expected to grow by 45 to 50% by 2015, driven by demands and government initiatives to promote the use of energy efficient and eco-friendly lighting technology.
The LED Expo 2013 is hosted by EGAT as part of the project to promote LED lighting and to support the Government’s policy to reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2030. Research from EGAT shows that by using 500,000 MR16 LED lights, annual energy consumption will reduced by 12 million units and 36 million Baht in savings. It will also reduce 6,600 tons of carbon dioxide emission yearly.
Organized by IMPACT Exhibition Management Co., Ltd and MEX Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd, an international exhibition company which has successfully created a brand value for a LED Expo in India since 2009, the Thailand’s LED Expo edition is also expected to be a platform to carve a niche in the country and the regional market.
Mr. Gaurav Juneja, Director of MEX Exhibitions Pvt. said, “Thailand is the hub for the entire South East Asia market. It has very good support from Government & bodies like EGAT who are promoting LED technology for reasons of energy efficiency and being an eco friendly light source. This show will act as a platform for LED sourcing for entire Thailand and this has attracted many exhibitors from overseas who see Thailand as a potential market for LEDs.”

Distribution World LED lighting market goes commodity

Supply LEDs to the lighting market is now seen a broad-based commodity sell rather than exclusively specialist design-in parts. The tipping point has been reached with the decision by Philips Lumileds to sign distribution deals with the big four online distributors – Digi-Key, Farnell, Mouser and RS. Lumileds had previously focused on a more specialist approach, most notably its long-standing relationship with Future’s specialist lighting business.

A Sustainable Seaweed Lamp You Can Eat

Tel Aviv’s Nir Meiri recently unveiled Marine Light – a curious lamp shade made entirely of seaweed wrapped around a spindly metal frame. Eaten by coastal people all over the world and prized for its gelatinous and nutritional properties (see bottled algae superfood), and its use is being investigated for seaweed as biofuel, marine algae is harvested for everything from dental moulds and wound dressings to deserts.

LEC Lyon lights historic Nîmes conurbation roadways with LEDs

SSL fixtures installed in roadway curbs and adjustable LED spotlights for pedestrian and vehicular tunnels preserve the historic look of Nîmes while providing effective route markers and ambiance. Lighting design firm Côté Lumière sought to "create an overall ambience at a human scale" in an outdoor lighting project in Nîmes, France that stretches 5 km from Nîmes station to the A9 Autoroute. The project utilized LEC Lyon LED luminaires to both implement marker lighting that's installed in the roadway curb and tunnel lighting that creates a welcoming ambiance to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.

New Mercedes-Benz S-Class Uses Some 500 LEDs to Do Away With Conventional Lights

In the early days of automobiles, all illumination aside from the very basic exterior lights was either optional or not available at all. Having light bulbs in various places to illuminate the passenger compartment, glove box, even dials became standard as manufacturing methods and automation dropped the costs enough. Now, though, Mercedes-Benz seems very pleased about completely giving up the use of conventional bulbs, all of which have been replaced with modern LEDs in their latest W222 S-Class sedans.