Anchor to Expand LED Lighting Business and Begin Manufacturing in India

Anchor Electricals, a subsidiary of Panasonic India, is reportedly looking to expand its LED lighting business. Last week the company opened an LED lighting experience center in Mumbai and announced plans for a similar center in Bangalore."Our next such showroom will be in Bangalore and we will continue expanding to other major cities in India and hope to increase to 1,000 stores, including distributor and dealer stores, by around FY 2014-15," Anchor Electricals vice president sales Ashok Gangar said. "We will open four distributor stores in Mumbai and gradually spread out to other main urban areas." Gangar further stated that Anchor would soon select a site for a new plant to manufacture LEDs in India, however, he refused to share the details of the location.

Panasonic acquired Anchor, the 49-year-old Indian family-owned electrical equipment brand, in 2007. Anchor sells products like switches, fans, CFL and LEDs and also sells switches under the Panasonic brand, which are priced slightly higher.

"By March next year our turnover would be Rs 2,100 crore and it has almost doubled. In 2007, when Panasonic acquired it, the turnover was around Rs 1,000 crore," he said, adding that it has remained in number one atop the electrical switch gear industry. Currently, 55 percent of the company's revenue comes from this business segment, Gangar noted.

Although, presently the company does not export, Ganger revealed the company has plans to export in next two years to Gulf and Africa. "Till now there is no export from us. But in last few years, changes have happened. Our quality has improved as new technologies are coming from Japan. In next two years, we would start exporting our products to Middle East and Africa under Anchor by Panasonic brand."

Why led light tube's 3014 lamp bead will replace 3528 lamp bead?

In the previous year, led light tube of indoor lighting in the industry which is around 0.06w, the ball bubble made most of the 3528 lamp beads, and in the first half of the year is 3014 lamp bead based to use most, using 3014 lights in the market is more attractive, more novel and also continue to strengthen in the competition in the market.

As early as in the first half of 2012, Xin Light electronics, Hong photoelectric, and other enterprises have launched 3014 white light series products, and those led lighting enterprises have also passed the white LED test. In 2013, as the industry growth, in the field of indoor lighting of ball bubble lamp and led light tube warm into the outbreak. The amount of 3014 also continued to rise, has been largely replaced by 3528.

In high LED industry research institute of statistics, in 2012 China LED ball steep light sales breakthrought in 200 million, up 15.8% from a year earlier. China LED bulb sales in 2013-2017 annual compound growth rate at about 66%, up to more than 2.5 billion sales in 2017. And indoor lighting in the ball bubble lamp also is less than the size of the led fiuorescent tube, thus it can be seen both occupied how much market share.

3528 lights in the LED market replaced by 3014 of the main reason: 3014 lights, ball bubble or fluorescent lamp, it has reduced the cost of the luminous flux increased. Moreover, 3014 lights, Which possess the better light rate and price advantage, have better heat dissipation performance and bigger light emittint area. Thus concluded that a long period of time, the use of 3014 lamp as the core source of led lighting tube and bulb is a kind of trend.

It's Time for the LED industry to Tackle Compatibility

The story behind LED development—only the 4th lighting technology developed in human history—is remarkable. The potential ahead of LED lighting to deliver real and measurable advantages—to save energy, last years longer, significantly lower bottom-line costs—is limitless.  But for it to be the next great defining feature of the lighting landscape, LED lighting needs to work.

Yes, work. That’s precisely the question LED end-users, specifiers, designers, utilities and regulatory agencies ask themselves before adopting LED options for their stores and retail fronts, offices and homes. Will these alternative lighting offerings achieve what they promise?

And the simple, scary truth facing the LED industry today is often, there’s no guarantee they will.

Today, legacy infrastructure—the transformers, fixtures, and control devices already incorporated into built environments—creates unique and challenging compatibility interferences with widespread LED adoption.  

What we’ve seen to date in our current, ongoing preliminary phase of LED adoption is “plug and play” applications--a customer simply installs an LED bulb into an existing fixture. Sometimes that fixture works with the LED bulb’s mechanical, electric, and thermal requirements; sometimes it doesn’t; and sometimes there are mixed results. The effect? Consumer uncertainty.  

Any new technology only has a small window to prove its value. Second chances with first impressions do not exist—which is why in any market; it’s essential to capitalize on the moment of market introduction. It’s an opportunity—and a test—to gain the trust of the consumer on the first try.  

The LED industry, peers, partners, and competitors, must work together to ensure full compatibility with the millions of lamps, dimmers, transformers, and fixtures on the market.

When looking at the compatibility problem, there are three separate issues to address: 1. Electrical compatibility; 2. Mechanical compatibility; and 3. Thermal compatibility.  

Electric Compatibility. Common voltages in lighting systems are significantly higher than LED requirements. As a result, the transformer and dimmers often don’t operate consistently, or properly.  Frequently this causes the LED to flicker and dim erratically, one lamp powering off before another, or the LED not even powering on at all.

Mechanical Compatibility. Problems arise when LEDs do not match the size and dimensions of traditional lamps.  It’s simply a matter of fitting a square into a round hole—the LED does not fix the legacy fixture’s width or height.

Thermal Compatibility. Traditional light sources and LEDs operate at dramatically different temperatures.  While some halogen lamps operate at 200 degrees Celsius, LED lamps must operate between a specific thermal temperature to ensure long life and safety standards.  In much of the legacy fixture infrastructure, there’s no means to dissipate heat in the bulb design.  

Let me be clear. Compatibility is the number one compelling problem facing the entire LED industry today. No end-user, designer, specifier will–or should—care what promises and potential LED technology holds in the future, if it doesn’t meet their needs in the present.

So while others keep the issue in the dark, Ledzworld works to guarantee our technology fits legacy lighting infrastructure. How? By proofing every one of our LED solutions against hundreds of the most commonly used dimmer, transformer and fixture applications.  It’s painstaking work, but it’s this behind-the-scenes effort that gives our customers the peace of mind they need, and deserve.

We’re also innovating LED drivers that guarantee our lamps are hassle-free, and work seamlessly on a wide range of magnetic and electric transformers and in combination with commonplace dimmers.

Recently, the company launched a breakthrough MR16 LED lamp with our patented Chameleon driver.  The Chameleon driver self adjusts to its environment by first detecting the transformer type, then analyzing its waveform, and finally adjusting itself to make a perfect electrical fit with that particular transformer. This innovative driver makes the company's MR16 LED retrofit lamps truly "plug and play" devices that can be used in a wide variety of transformer and dimmer combinations.  Anywhere, every time.

What’s more, the CTR functionality implemented in Ledzworld's Chameleon driver design also provides an intelligent temperature control monitoring system. The temperature control system acts as a watchdog by continuously measuring the ambient temperature inside the driver compartment by utilizing a built-in thermal sensor embedded into the Chameleon driver chipset.

Bottom-line, our lamps work on the spectrum of magnetic transformers, in combination with most commonly used leading edge dimmers, and with a large variety of electronic transformers paired with commonly used trailing edge dimmers.

Ledzworld set out to revolutionize the lighting industry with one unshakable commitment: to develop, design, and manufacture LED lighting that meets—and exceeds—all LED technology expectations. But that starts with ensuring that our technologically progressive, best-in-class lamps work as well with older infrastructure as they do with the new.  

So that a few bad actors don’t spoil LEDs reputation, it’s time for the entire LED industry to tackle compatibility, together.  

Intematix Introduces Remote Phosphor Product for 150W LED Retrofit Lamps

Intematix Corp, a leading innovator of patented phosphor solutions for high-quality LED lighting, today announced the volume shipments of their remote phosphor component that enables 150W equivalent LED retrofit lamps. This production release adds to the product family already enabling 40W, 60W, 75W and 100W bulb replacements all using a similar omnidirectional form factor.

As global government regulations phase out incandescent lamps, these remote phosphor components streamline access to high quality, efficient lighting in these popular lumen output ranges for use in residential and commercial applications. In addition, this innovative form factor delivers an incandescent-like 325 degree light distribution pattern in contrast to many LED replacement bulbs on the market.

“By applying this remote phosphor technology to the high end of the light bulb output range, we show 38% higher lumen output than bulbs available today,” said Julian Carey, Senior Director of Strategic Marketing at Intematix. “We are already seeing newly available, 2200-plus lumen LED light bulbs worldwide using this technology.”

Remote phosphor is a lighting system architecture where a separate phosphor component is powered by blue LEDs. LED light bulbs use this architecture and the increased light extraction it enables to reduce LED component count and costs. Lighting uniformity and consistency are also improved and supply chains are simplified. Intematix has launched this specific ChromaLit® Contour product with a light bulb reference design that includes the following features:

• Three-way switching mode up to 2200 lumens
• 2700K, 3000K & 5000K color temperature options
• Standard color rendering options of 80 and 90CRI
• 30 watts power consumption
• 325 degree, omni-directional light meeting ENERGY STAR® requirements
• Up to 25,000 hour lifetime
• 150W equivalent LED light bulbs utilizing Intematix’s patented ChromaLit remote phosphor are now available at major US retail outlets. 

Japanese LED Market Size Doubles

Over the past few years, Japan has seen an upsurge in energy conservation awareness. In the wake of the Tohoku earthquake in 2011, the government has even proposed plans for a “low-carbon society”. LED products have since experienced rapid popularization becoming the poster child for energy saving products. A recent survey shows the Japanese LED market size will undergo explosive growth in 2012 of 195 percent to $420.4 billion Japanese yen (US $4.2 billion),as reported by Liberty Times.

The LED market experience exponential growth last year according to Yano Research’s “2013 LED Lighting Market Research Findings” as published in a Japanese media source. The market this year continues to have high energy saving demands. Driven by LED market’s rapid growth, it is forecasted that the market scale for general lighting products will increase.

High popularization for energy saving efficiency

The main selling point of LEDs is that they save around 40 percent more electricity than florescent bulbs with a lifespan of more than 40,000 hours, which comes to over 10 years. In highly energy conscience Japan, popularization of LEDs began much earlier  than other countries with various related merchandise available on the shelves of home appliance hypermarkets.

The Chinese LED lighting market in comparison has only just begun popularization this year. Chinese LED lighting demands could increase in 2015 to $100 billion yen  according to forecasts by market research companies. Japanese manufacturers hope to take advantage of the opportunity and snare a large chunk of the Chinese market.

Competition is becoming fiercer with the increasing number of companies  entering LED lighting. Companies are straining to accelerate development of product distinction from their competitors to keep the market from transforming into pure price competition. LED lamps are no longer just lighting fixtures, but value added interior decoration pieces with aesthetic design and functional value. 

Japanese LED manufacture Koizumi has recently released the industry’s first lighting simulation app called Virtual Lighting Design where users can pick from various locations (bedroom, entrance hall, and hallway), room size, material for flooring and walls, and more to test LED lighting luminosity before deciding to purchase products.

The LED lighting market is expected to continually expand, but whether companies will be able to release products with features aside from energy-efficient and long-life products will become an important condition for companies vying for market share.

Guangdong Still Under LED Industry Oversupply Pressure

China’s National Development and Reform Commission and others announced the country’s latest strategic new industry development report at the China Hi-tech Fair on Nov. 16, 2013. Most industries remain small in Guangdong Province’s eight strategic new industries, according to the province’s latest strategic new industry report.

Strategic new industry sizes in Guangdong Province remained small, due to difficulties in expanding the domestic market and other factors. Different levels of oversupply issues have surfaced in the LED and photovoltaic industry. In addition, innovative technologies are mostly still at the stage of tracking and imitation, and lacks core technologies developed in-house. Take the Guangdong Province for example, on the surface it is a livid and rising industry, but in reality the industry’s future is in the hands of large companies, such as Google and Qualcomm that have control over operation system and core chip technologies.

Shenzhen strategic new industry is also facing lack of core technology. In addition, the city’s report also admitted nurturing a market is a long and tedious road, and tension in the industry’s developable space is also affecting potential development. 

PIDA’s Unveils Top 10 LED Lighting Manufacturers List

Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA) compiled a list of the top 10 global LED lighting manufactures, according to Economic Daily News, with international heavy weights Philips, Osram, and Panasonic among the top three. No Taiwanese manufacturers made the list. Taiwanese lighting brands currently include China Electric, Everlight, Delta, Tatung, Adata, Tsannkuen, and Leotek.

PIDA top 10 global LED lighting manufacturers in order are Philips, Osram, Panasonic, Toshiba, Cree, ENDO, Zumtobel, Koizumi, Iris Ohyama, and Sharp. Global LED lighting output value reached NT $11.5 billion (US $390 million) with a penetration rate of 11 percent

PIDA looks optimistically on business opportunities in the start of 2014, when Europe and North America markets begin to replace most commonly used 40-60W incandescent bulbs in households. Global LED market penetration rates were pushed up by U.S. companies that have slowly switched from conventional lighting to LED, such as GE, and by domestic Chinese manufacturers and OEMs that are global powerhouses for lighting manufacturing. Taiwanese manufacturers are all rushing to grasp this business opportunity whether it is through their own brands or as OEMs. 

Dialog Semiconductor Introduces New SmarteXite Technology Platform for Intelligent LED Lighting

SmarteXite enables solutions for digital dimming, wireless control and sensor control while supporting unprecedented time to market, optimised LED bulb quality and production yields

Dialog Semiconductor plc, a provider of integrated power management, AC/DC, solid state lighting and short-range wireless technologies, today announced its smarteXiteTM platform, enabling a new generation of highly flexible, programmable LED driver ICs for smart lighting applications. SmarteXite, based on fully configurable logic, is the first LED driver technology to directly and easily support wireless connectivity, light sensor control and allow easy integration into lighting control systems.

The first device from the smarteXite family, the iW6401, supports multiple dimming interfaces, including digital dimming via a simple main on/off switch, the new Ledotron(TM) digital dimming protocol and toggle-switch based dimming. All dimming-curves can be memory-configured to enable a highly optimised end-user lighting experience. The integrated digital loadline transmission (DLT) receiver in the iW6401 supports the Ledotron IEC 62756-1 dimming protocol, making it the world's first single-chip plug-and-play Ledotron solution.

Using a standard I2C digital interface, the iW6401 can serve as a powerful frontend for wireless communication modules like low-energy Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or ZigBee. Additionally, intelligent sensor devices enabling color- or proximity-sensing can be directly connected. When such a peripheral device is used, the integrated power management unit in the iW6401 provides a stable power source, reducing the external component count and cost.

Combining Dialog's strengths in configurable power management with state-of-the-art digital signal processing design, the iW6401 is the world's first programmable AC/DC retrofit LED lamp driver IC, which allows engineers to design and configure the bulb design via software with an optimised bill of material (BOM) versus a time intensive iterative hardware design process. This greatly reduces the time to market and allows a smarteXite-based design to support many different global configurations and lighting requirements.

'Solid state lighting components and manufacturing costs have fallen to a level enabling LED bulbs to be sold in retail stores for under 10 dollars; this price point drives consumers to adopt the technology and retrofit their homes,' said Mark Tyndall, VP Corporate Development & Strategy and GM Power Conversion Business Group at Dialog Semiconductor. 'Market analyst firm McKinsey predicts a 57 percent compounded annual growth rate for LED bulbs units to be sold between 2012 and 2016, with more than 2.6 billion units to be sold in 2016.'
SmarteXite supports final stage digital calibration on the production line where the bulb manufacturers can reconfigure the illumination calibration settings like brightness and colour via the A/C mains terminals. This allows lower tolerance LEDs to be used with less binning or waste of LED's. Additionally, using this final stage calibration feature, the adjustment of the LED currents can be done even in the installed state, making the smarteXite platform also ideal for Zhaga compliant power supplies. The iW6401 can be configured to actively manage the lamp temperature using either an on-chip or off-chip temperature sensor together with configurable state temperature control.

LEDs are especially suitable to be dimmed in a wide range. Unlike CFLs and other discharge lamps, LEDs can be set to almost zero current by applying digital control principles. With smarteXite, intelligent control algorithms can be employed and configured to provide a wide dimming range. Additionally, the smarteXite platform offers a range of protection and supervision functions, which can be customised for the different lamp requirements.

Opel Monza Concept Car Introduces 3D LED Panel Projection Technology

Opel Monza concept car. (LEDinside/Opel)

Efficiency and connectivity are two main focal points that will define development of the next generation of automobiles. The celebrated Opel Monza Concept, which premiered at this year’s Frankfurt International Motor Show, is a visionary and pioneer in both areas, offering a fascinating preview of the future of vehicle development. With its captivating exterior styling and innovative modular powertrain system design, the Monza Concept embodies stylish and ultra-modern efficiency on four wheels, taking this even further in the interior. There Opel’s youngest concept car impresses with unique projection technology and versatile connectivity possibilities that seem like a quantum leap for drivers today but will soon be a normal part of everyday life.

“The Opel Monza Concept breaks the conventions of automobile design, particularly in the interior,” said Opel CEO Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann. “With trailblazing LED projection technology, we create a completely new infotainment world with a unique sense of space. This comes with connectivity possibilities between drivers and their family, friends and acquaintances, and even with the entire internet community that have been unimaginable to date.”

Information in 3D: LED projectors create a multi-media display

A spectacular view when opening: The expansive doors provide maximum functionality and offer an unobstructed view of the spacious, open passenger cabin. (LEDinside/ Opel)

Once behind the wheel, the Monza Concept whisks you away into a completely new and unique world of instruments and infotainment with its ultra-modern LED projection technology.

Drivers no longer find the conventional individual, separate monitors that display different information; instead, they face a wide, sculpted multi-function panel that sweeps from door to door, and is used as a single projection surface. Information and decorative elements are displayed on the surface, which the driver can customize according to his needs, taste or mood.

The wide multi-functional panel that uses 3D LED projections.  (LEDinside/ Opel)

Doors open with a mere sweep of a hand: Just place your hand over the diverse design shades of blue that make up the gradated LED design line and the expansive doors of the Opel Monza Concept open and close like condor wings.

Close up of the blue LED display design in the Opel Monza Concept. (LEDinside/ Opel)

The LED projectors create a continuous, adaptable multi-functional display – a world premiere in an automobile. Already established in the events arena, Opel designers were the first to come up with the idea of implementing this technology in a passenger car. The 3D graphics are impressive, and reflect all important functions from precise vehicle and driver information to internet and communication options as well as decorative elements. So the Monza Concept offers a trendsetting multi-function design: it elicits pure emotion while offering superb functionality. Both the area displaying information and the background can be individually configured according to personal information needs and preferences; operation of the different menus and displays is via voice control and steering wheel controls..

Efficiency and clarity are also priorities here: when it came to how the displays present information, Opel engineers focused on the best and most personal way to make relevant data available to the driver. The approach was “simplifying the multitude” and so details on the car, the navigation and the smartphone settings and connection only appear when necessary or desired. So drivers can use a wide range of information without being overwhelmed by text or images. This also makes the Monza Concept a model of future HMI (Human-Machine-Interface) systems, as its interior design is based on latest research findings in this field.

French OLED Lighting Company Makes American Debut

On October 29th, French OLED lighting company BLACKBODY opened its New York City showroom in SoHo, making remarkable new OLED technology accessible to American architects and the interior design communities. 

OLED Lighting showroom in New York (photo courtesy: OSA Direct/BLACKBODY)

OLEDs, Organic Light-Emitting Diodes, offer unparalleled lighting solutions. The lightweight, ultra-flat, glare-free, shadow-free and heat-free technology can be used to create inspiring designer indoor or outdoor light fixtures. Unlike conventional light bulbs, OLED light sources emit 100% useful light. OLED allows larger surfaces of light to be created, shaped and manipulated. As well as increasing opportunities for design, OLED technology is clean with 0% polluting components. OLEDs are used by automotive and medical equipment manufacturers, and OLED displays are currently being introduced to the market for cell phones and televisions.

"With no shadows, glare, or heat, OLED fixtures provide soft, flattering and welcoming light. The romantic lighting, when incorporated into dramatic designs, creates a breathtaking display hardly accessible to other electronic lighting options," said Alessandro Dolcetta, Co-Founder of BLACKBODY.

The new showroom will be dedicated to creativity and will exemplify the myriad of designer lighting options made possible by the BLACKBODY's OLED technology. Visitors can experience the possibilities of this new technology to provide a unique ambiance for executive lobbies, offices, hotels, and private homes.

The showroom presents several products designed by major European designers. Thierry Gaugain, the Blackbody art director, has made significant contributions to the current collection as well as to the design of this first showroom.
"OLED technology brings lighting design to a new level," said Bruno Dussert-Vidalet, Co-Founder of BLACKBODY. "With the opening of our New York City showroom, we are glad to be introducing this new light to American designers and architects and are excited to see how they will integrate this technology in their work." 

Flextronics Expands into LED Lighting Solutions

Company enables original equipment manufacturers, commercial and industrial customers to improve cash flow, accelerate time to market and meet energy efficiency targets globally

During a webinar hosted by Flextronics, the company announced an expansion of its portfolio of energy infrastructure solutions and services that will help original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) address regional shifts in the energy market by developing and delivering products to market faster, enhancing their regional market reach, and freeing up cash flow by leveraging its global capabilities. Flextronics also introduced a portfolio of commercial and industrial lighting solutions and services that will help enable businesses and property managers, who operate mega square foot facilities, to reduce both their procurement and utility costs as they meet corporate and government energy efficiency targets.

According to a 2012 McKinsey & Company report, the lighting market is at an inflection point as LED lighting is expected to grow 40% annually and become over 65% of the total lighting market by 2020. Flextronics has responded to this market need by introducing Flextronics Lighting Solutions, a portfolio of energy efficient lighting solutions for commercial and industrial applications. These include applications for high and low bays, offices, outdoors and lighting controls. It also includes a full set of lighting services such as lighting audits, order fulfillment, incentive management that can be offered directly to customers or with their preferred partners.

"Flextronics is proud to help OEMs respond to regional growth opportunities from Smart Grid and LED lighting, while improving their cash flow and reducing the time to bring new solutions to market. In addition to OEMs, we are now helping commercial and industrial businesses lower their utility bills with energy efficient lighting solutions," said Jeannine Sargent, President, Energy at Flextronics.

The energy industry is faced with an aging energy infrastructure, increasing government regulations on emissions and renewable energy mix, as well as customer initiatives to improve energy efficiency and lower costs. In fact, the European Commission is targeting a 20% increase in energy efficiency, as well as 20% of all energy consumed to be from renewable sources, by the year 2020. Such initiatives are driving the need for smart and clean energy solutions with increasing power electronic and digital communication capabilities that are interoperable, cost effective and highly reliable.

For many years, Flextronics has been helping manufacturers of solar modules, advanced meter infrastructure, and LED lamps cost effectively build and deliver products to their customers. The solutions announced today further expand Flextronics' scope and depth of capabilities to provide a suite of supply chain and technology solutions across the exploration, generation, distribution, and consumption of energy.