Japanese manufacturers in the Tohoku region went about business as usual, despite a 7.4 magnitude quake at a depth of 10 kilometers that struck off the shores of Fukushima earlier this morning, reported TechNews.

Growing number of Chinese smartphone makers are raising investments in OLED panels, including BOE Technology Group and six other major local players have constructed new factories and invested in total more than 2 trillion Japanese Yen (US $9 billion), reported Nikkei Asian Review.

Xiaolan, a small town with a population of 157,000 residents located in Guangdong Province in Southern China has seen its LED industry market value balloon in a short span of 8-years, reported Zhongshan Daily.

Taiwanese IC driver manufacturer Macroblock has successfully developed LED drivers for small pitch displays, and is eyeing driver solutions for an innovative display technology next year, reported China Post.

NIPSCO announced plans to convert existing street lights to LED)technology through its LED Street Light Program. NIPSCO-owned street lights will be changed at no additional cost to participating communities. This program is the first of its kind in Indiana.

Latest developments in Germany this week are making a Chinese investor takeover of Osram, and the outlook of the approval of IDG Capital consortium’s acquisition of LEDVANCE appear rather dim. Germany’s biggest labor union has become one of the latest advocates against a Chinese merger of Osram, as it seeks to keep factory jobs and others in the country.

Since early November, many Chinese carton factories began to reject new orders or restrict orders. The situation has been ongoing till now, with factories in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai areas responded the most. As many as 18 local large and medium-sized carton factories issued emergent notices of the rise in price on the single day of November 12. Paper suddenly became in short supply. Carton factories couldn’t buy base paper even with cash in hand, causing a chain reaction of the entire manufacture industry.

Exiting from cut-throat price competitions in the blue LED lighting segment, LED epitaxial wafer and chip manufacturer Arima Optoelectronics (Arima) has halted manufacturing of blue LED chips altogether and shifted to AlGaInP production, reported DIGITIMES.

The LED market’s downturn resulted in net losses for certain manufacturers, such as Taiwanese LED die manufacturer Genesis Photonics Inc., leading to rumors that it is on the brink of a shutdown, reported Apple Daily.

The European Photonics Industry Consortium (EPIC) and China Solid State Lighting Alliance (CSA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to strengthen their partnership, reported Novus Lighting.

On Oct.19, 2016 and Oct. 28, 2016, Nichia  filed a request for three preliminary injunctions in Germany at the Düsseldorf District Court against Everlight Electronics (“Everlight”), alleging that the white LED products “334-15/X1C5-1QSA”, „334-15/T2C2-1TVB“ and „XI3535-KT577J1-03201-000P“ manufactured by Everlight and distributed in Germany infringe Nichia's YAG patent EP 936 682 (DE 697 02 929).

Lighting Science announced a collaboration agreement with iHome, a division of consumer electronics manufacturer SDI Technologies. Under the terms of the two-year agreement, the two technology leaders will explore the incorporation of Lighting Science’s patented spectrum control technology into iHome’s Zenergy product line. The agreement also includes co-marketing provisions, including the endorsement of nationally-renowned sleep expert Dr. Michael J. Breus, who currently serves as a member of Lighting Science’s Scientific Advisory Board.

The City Energy Project, a joint effort of the Institute for Market Transformation and Natural Resources Defense Council, announced the addition of ten communities that have committed to reducing energy waste in buildings.

German’s largest labor union IG Metall announced it will prevent any attempts made by Chinese investors to acquire lighting giant Osram, indicating the escalating backlash against Chinese involvement in the nation’s high-tech sector, reported Financial Times and other media last week.

Cree has filed a complaint against E. Mishan & Sons, Inc. (“Emson”) with the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts for infringement of Cree’s patented LED technology in Emson’s flashlights, such as the Bell + Howell Taclight.

Idemitsu Kosan and Merck concluded a collaboration agreement that allows each party to use the other party’s OLED material-related patents in certain areas.

Small to mid-sized display manufacturer Japan Display Inc. (JDI) third quarter financial results were in the red, due to lower demands than expected from Chinese clients and its largest client Apple, reported Chinese-language media Money DJ.

An Arizona-based LED luminaire manufacturer Optolum is suing top U.S. LED manufacturer Cree over patent infringement, reported The News & Observer.

The Canadian government recently announced it will be subsidizing in total CA $82 million (US $62.2 million) over a five-year period to National Optics Institute (INO) to support research in optics and photonics for industrial applications.

More than 23,000 sodium streetlights will be replaced with LEDs in a large streetlight project rolled out in Sunderland city in UK. 

MechaTronix, part of the Eight Lakes Group and headquartered in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, announced its next major milestone with the acquisition of Cooling House. Cooling House, based in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is a technology leader in advanced two-phase cooling. Their high power cooling solutions are based on advanced heat pipes and thermosyphons. As experts in remote heat transfer, they can offer innovative thermal solutions that save energy on an application level and that enable system builders to use higher performance electronics components.

Quantel Laser announced the appointment of Dr. Steve Patterson as CEO of their Quantel U.S. subsidiary. A nine-year US Army veteran with service in the 1st Ranger Bn., Steve comes to Quantel after successfully leading DILAS Diode Laser’s US office through rapid growth and market expansion. Prior to DILAS, Dr. Patterson held technical and management positions at nLight Photonics and Sharp and has been involved in several technology start-ups. Dr. Patterson holds a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has authored numerous technical papers and has two patents to his name.

A day before the U.S. presidential elections 2016, Californian voters passed a Proposition 64, which legalizes adult marijuana usage for recreational purposes.

LED manufacturer Lextar third quarter financial results for 2016 recently showed positive developments.

Samsung Display plans to raise small to mid-sized OLED panels production by 35% in 2017 to meet surging OLED panel demands from Chinese smartphone manufacturers, Korean media Pulse cited a Samsung Display official saying.

Revenue rises about 6% on a comparable basis in 2016. Adjusted EBITA margin increases to 12.5%.  Proposed dividend of EUR 1.00 (US $1.13) per share. Osram managing board expects growth pace to continue in 2017.

YAMING Lighting, the gold sponsors of Light Middle East 2016 returns to the show after a successful outing last year. Rashid Al Noori, Chairman of YAMING MEA and CIS, said, "Since the last Light Middle East edition we have been in close contact with the industry's key players and have signed partnership with distributors within the region”.

Lighting Science, a global leader in next-generation LED lighting solutions, announced that it has been awarded a contract by Vizient. With an annual purchasing volume of almost US $100 billion, Vizient is the largest, member-driven health care performance improvement company in the country.

The Lighting Industry Association (LIA), Europe’s largest trade body for the lighting industry, is launching its own range of insurance services for its 280 members.

China’s optoelectronic power house is situated in its southern province Xiamen, which is known for its strong LED lighting industry, reported Xiamen Daily.