The sapphire substrate industry is booming on growing non-LED application demands. Tooted as having the potential to eliminate cracks and scratches, many electronic device manufacturers have been shifting their focus from glass to sapphire substrate over the past few years. A player looking into the sapphire substrate market has recently emerged.

Light measurement equipment manufacturers from around the world gathered at this year’s Light+Building in Frankfurt, Germany. A few of the large manufacturers in attendance included German companies LMT and Instrument Systems, American LabSphere, and Chinese comapny EVERFINE. Companies showcased their many new innovative products, including integration spheres, goniometers, spectrometeres, and more. 

Everlight’s LED TVs have been very successful lately, according to Infotimes. The company has received orders from new Japanese and Chinese TV clients this year and already began shipments in 1Q14. Mass production will officially start in 2Q14. 

Some residents in Hounslow Council in London, UK, have complained ultra-bright LED streetlights have disrupted their evening and sleep so bad that windows had to resort to old fashioned World War II blitz-style blackout curtains to keep the lights out, according to a Daily Mail report.

Intelligent lighting solutions company Lighting Science® today announced the election of retired General and former White House National Security Advisor to President Obama, James L. Jones, as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. His election went into effect April 1, 2014. 

The recently concluded Light+Building trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany has shown the LED sector will become an important momentum to bolster the Malaysian electronics sector, according to an article by Malaysian national news agency Bernama.

The biennial Light+Building trade fair in Frankfurt has come to a close today, with over 2,300 exhibitors in attendance and close to 200,000 visitors. LEDinside Research Roger Chu shared his insight while at the show, observing the trends and innovative products showcased. Stand outs included Philips, Osram, Edison Opto, Toshiba, and Zumtobel.

On the occasion of the Light+Building light fair, the Osram stand will be showing project partners how to further exploit the possibilities of light with lighting systems, light projects and various solutions and services. Light+Building is the leading light fair, taking place from 30 March to 4 April in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Osram is located at Light+Building in Hall 2 ("Alte Festhalle").

Panasonic will be selling its LCD TV plant in Mexico as part of its restructuring measures, according to a recent Kyodo News report.

Taiwan Semiconductor Lighting Company (TSLC) is developing packaging based on hybrid technology for wavelengths that range from UV lights with invisible short wavelengths to visible light with long wavelengths of blue, green, red, and IR. Most of the company’s products are packaged on ceramic substrates and they have control over various ceramic substrate layout technology. 

Unity Opto March consolidated revenue grew 25 percent from February on the back of increased lighting and backlighting demands. Working days returning to normal in March allowed the Taiwanese LED package manufacturer to meet client order deadlines after Chinese New Year. The company’s indoor bulb order volume remains high.

Zumtobel announced plans of slashing 600 jobs, about 8 percent of its workforce to double operating profit margin by 2016 to 2017 and stay competitive against Asian manufacturers, according to a Reuters report.

German lighting manufacturer Osram Licht will be facing more challenges in 2014 as the company restructures its lighting business, according to a report by Reuters.

EEPCA, the European Electrical Products Certification Association, in cooperation with LightingEurope, today announced the launch of ENEC+, the first pan-European mark capable of certifying the initial performance of traditional and LED luminaires. The new performance rating provides the market with certification as to the compliance of LED light fixtures and other luminaires, proving compliance with European safety standards and ensuring the reliability of their stated performance characteristics at the beginning of their life cycle.

Each April 2, 2014, Autism Speaks celebrates Light It Up Blue along with the international autism community, in commemoration of the United Nations-sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day.

Market listed companies have released their March revenue reports this week with the LED industry coming out on top, according to an article by Economic Daily News. LED manufacturers had unusually good performance in January and February, a traditionally slack season for the industry. The growth trend continued into the peak season where it picked up pace in March. Order visibility already extended to 3Q14. The second half of this year is anticipated to be smooth for the industry. 

Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) has been devoted to developing flip-chip packaging recently. The Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer built a flip-chip package production line in 2013 to strengthen product integration. 

The consumer electronics market, and the LED driver market in particular, have been developing rapidly in recent years. These markets are demanding power supplies/drivers with lower power consumption in shrinking form factors, as well as ultra low cost. Furthermore, due to the ever-increasing requirement for improved power quality, the use of power factor correction (PFC) circuitry for these devices is almost mandatory. 

Technology improvements for general service lighting, driven by federal efficiency standards, are leading to increased reliability and bulb life. As efficiency increases, residential electricity consumption for lighting declines over time. Although the initial purchase price is higher for more efficient technologies than for traditional bulbs, significant savings are achieved over the life of the bulb (also called a lamp).

The biennial Light+Building trade fair in Frankfurt is the largest global lighting exhibition. The six day long fair opened on March 30th and will run till April 4th, 2014.Similar to 2012, the lighting exhibition is categorized into different topics, which include outdoor lighting, lighting fixtures, modules, and innovative LED technology. 

Panasonic will be closing its OLED business in April 2014, according to report by Japanese news agency Kyodo News.

Taiwanese LED package manufacturer Ledtech recently released their fiscal 2013 financial report. The company benefited from strong growth in profit margin in both their Chinese white household product and lighting product business, which drove up revenue in 2013.

Taiwan has seen an uptick in LED street light replacement activity as of late. Last year, around 25,000 street lights were replaced during a street light replacement project across five major cities in Taiwan. An additional 30,000 street lights are anticipated to be replaced this year, according to the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI).

The joint facility owned by Apple and GT Advanced Technologies in Mesa, Arizona is expanding, said Apple Insider. The number of buildings and facilities on the 83-acre plot of land is growing, perhaps to accommodate higher yields for products yet to be announced. 

Ahead of the upcoming Lighting + Building 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany, many companies have unveiled products that will be showcased at the show. Korean companies LG and Samsung have announced plans of launching of smart light products, while Cooledge Lighting’s flexible light sheet has caught the attention of some industry insiders. Whether the same trend of smart light, OLED technology, horticultural lighting and street light seen at TILS 2014 will also be seen in Germany remains to be seen.

Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) has released their fiscal 2013 financial report. Revenue in 4Q13 benefited from introduction of flip-chips into street lights, lifting the company out of eight consecutive quarters of losses. In addition, improvements to product portfolio have drove up profit margin. 

CEA-Leti will demonstrate its new prototype for wireless high data rate Li-Fi (light fidelity) transmission at Light + Building 2014 in Frankfurt, Germany, March 30-April 4. The technology employs the high-frequency modulation capabilities of light-emitting diode (LED) engines used in commercial lighting

XNOVA COB LEDs released to mass production; industry best CRI up to 98 with AccuWhite technology Billerica, MA (February 25, 2014) - Luminus Devices Inc., a global manufacturer of high-performance LEDs, announced today that its flagship XNOVA white Chip-On-Board (COB) products reached full mass production while setting another benchmark with industry-leading efficacy for both cool and warm white. Typical performance was measured at up to 145 lm/W at 5000K, and 132 lm/W for 3000K at room temperature. Hot lumens per Watt at 85C, a more representa...

Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer FOREPI announced their fiscal 2013 financial report. The company reported losses and was hit hard during the second half of 2013 when backlight demands dropped sharply. 

The LED industry performance has been much better than last year, demands have been pretty good for backlight, lighting and other components, said Everlight Chairman Robert Yeh. In addition, Everlight’s acquisition of German luminaire company WOFI in 2013 will allow Everlight revenue to break new records in 2014.