Continuing to evolve the WeMo platform of simple, ingenious connected home products, Belkin announced a slate of new WeMo devices including the WeMo LED Lighting Starter Set and WeMo Smart LED Bulbs. Also on tap for the WeMo line at CES is a revised Android and iOS app offering improved functionality and enhanced lighting features. 

Radiant Zemax announces the release of the ProMetric I2, the newest member of its ProMetric I family of imaging colorimeters. Designed to meet the speed and throughput requirements of high-volume production lines, the ProMetric I2 incorporates ProMetric I’s industry-leading technology in a 2MP, 1600 x 1200 pixel model, making it well suited to applications such as color and luminance uniformity testing in flat panel displays (FPDs), light measurement and characterization of LED products.

At the end of 2013, a new list of bankrupt Chinese LED lighting manufacturers was published. Industry sources estimate more than 10,000 people have been impacted by the bankruptcy wave. Frustrated workers and angry investors have hunt down these indebted bosses on their own, provide legal evidence on outstanding accounts receivable and form groups to ask related organizations for help. These people will be unable to enjoy their reunion dinner during the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year this month.

Vertically integrated Taiwanese LED manufacturer Lextar December revenue reached NT $1.1 billion (US $36.6 million), a decline of 5.8 percent from November but growth of 51.9 percent compared with December 2012. Revenue for 4Q13 was NT $3.32 billion, an increase of 40.9 compared to the same period in 2012. Revenue for 2013 as a whole was NT $13.7 billion, growth of 36.57 percent from NT $10.1 billion in 2012.

The LED industry has been dubbed as one of the “four miserable industries” in Taiwan, but in 2014 the industry will have a chance to shed its miserable reputation. Order is being restored in the Chinese LED industry as the country reduces LED subsidies and bans incandescent bulbs. The LED industry supply and demand issues will be improved in 2014. In addition, with strong growth in global LED lighting demands, big brands and investment managers are optimistic about LED industry trends in 2014. 

Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epileds released their December consolidated revenue. Affected by stocktaking towards the end of 2013, revenue for December reached NT $110 million (US $3.7 million), a decrease of 6.87 percent compared to November but a yearly growth of 16.38 percent. The company revenue for 4Q13 was NT $345 million, an increase of 6.76 percent from 3Q. Total revenue for 2013 reached NT $1.32 billion, with a yearly decrease of 2.15 percent due to impact from price drops.

Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Epistar benefited from an increase in backlight orders with a limited affect on their slack season. Order visibility for February orders after Lunar New Year is still not completely clear. However, the situation in January 2014 had an obvious turn for the better with utilization rates maintaining a standard of 80-90 percent.

Demand for high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, as measured by NEMA’s HID shipment indexes, remained soft during 2013Q3. Seasonally adjusted shipments of sodium vapor lamps dipped 3.2 percent on a quarterly basis (QoQ), falling to a new series low. Similarly, mercury vapor lamp shipments reached the second lowest level in the series, declining by 5.5 percent QoQ. Metal halide lamps, the largest HID lamp segment, contracted by 1.6 percent QoQ.

NEMA’s Electroindustry Business Conditions Index (EBCI) for current conditions in North America slipped for the second straight month in December, falling to 52.8 from 53.1 in November, but continued to point to improvement in the business environment by remaining above the 50-point mark. Confidence in future business conditions was slightly more widespread in December compared to November. The EBCI for North American conditions six months hence edged upward to 83.3 from 81.3 in October.

RCS Ltd., an established distributor in the cellular phone and electronics market, announced today that they have entered the LED lighting market. The company now services buyers and sellers of LED lights worldwide both through their online platforms, and with their experienced staff of sales professionals. RCS Lighting brokers stocks of the most cutting edge LED technology for all applications, keeping companies supplied at the lowest prices.

Ushio America, Inc. expands its offering of LED lighting solutions with an investment in Zylight LLC, a privately-owned manufacturer of intelligent LED lighting instruments for the cinema and broadcast production industries. This partnership brings together two industry innovators and solidifies the foundation for Ushio America’s solid state lighting strategy in the Stage / Studio / Television (SSTV) market.

SWITCH Lighting announced that it received a Special Recognition Award by the U.S. Department of Energy’s LED Lighting Facts. SWITCH was honored for its commitment and dedication to manufacturing and designing quality lighting products in each category and market that it serves. This year, LED Lighting Facts recognized 18 organizations for their support for the LED Lighting Facts program, and for their work in the LED lighting industry.

Chinese LED chip manufacturers are conservative towards expansion, according to the Commercial Times. Forepi and Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) have temporarily stopped introducing new MOCVD units for 2014 and are aiming to increase efficiency instead. However, Taiwanese manufacturer Epistar has continued to increase MOCVD units to meet lighting client demands, due to insufficient production during peak season.

Kingsun’s investor relation activity report released on December 30th showed that the company sees great potential in the LED market. Spurred by technological advancements and lowering costs, prices continue to drop. The industry profit levels have declined due to this environment.

Leyard announced that the company received the “National Key Product Certificate” on December 30th issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environmental Protection, and General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China for their high definition LED display system.

Eleven leading German OLED companies and research institutions announced the successful completion of the OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) related project; So-Light. This € 14.7 m (US$) project was supported by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) over a three and a half year period and addressed the complete value chain, from primary OLED materials through to OLED-lighting applications. Several of the promising innovations created within the project will now be brought to market by the participants of the So-Light project. 

Although, LEDs have the benefits of longer lifetimes and higher energy efficiency then other light bulbs, many consumers would rather stick to incandescent bulbs. With the U.S. incandescent light bulb bans effective as of Jan. 1 this year, StatesmanJournal.com outlines top four reasons as to why consumers still have a special thing for incandescent bulbs:

Under a little-known requirement that went into effect this week, the last of the “general service” incandescent bulbs—descendants of the original light bulb invented by Thomas Alva Edison in 1879— can no longer be manufactured or imported into the U.S.

LEDinside team would like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year. The LEDinside editorial team has continued with its recap of important industry developments in 2013:

The U.S. ban on 40W and 60W incandescent bulbs put into effect by the U.S. Congress January 1st is an effort to promote more energy efficient lighting, such as CFLs and LEDs.

Following U.S. phase out announcement of incandescent bulbs, northern neighbor Canada  phase out of 75-100 watt incandescent bulbs will be effective as of Jan.1 , 2013, according to several Canadian media reports. 

NEMA’s Lighting Systems Index subsided from a five year high posted in the previous quarter, decreasing by 1.6 percent on a quarter-to-quarter (q/q) basis during 2013Q3. However, demand remains robust compared to a year ago. On a year-over-year basis, lighting equipment shipments improved for the fourth consecutive quarter, increasing by 4.7 percent. Miniature lamps were the only component of the index in positive territory, while fixtures, emergency lighting, large lamps and ballasts declined q/q.

History was made this New Year's Eve in Bangkok as the world's highest ball drop took place on the rooftop of the Tower Club at lebua hotel. Perched 872 feet high (64 stories tall), the brightly lit, rainbow colored ball was visible across the city for over 1.8 km (1 mile). This was the inaugural year of the Bangkok Ball Drop at lebua, which is to become an annual New Year's Eve tradition for Thailand.

Lighting Science is debuting new lighting products that can be controlled via Bluetooth-powered mobile apps to optimize healthy living and efficient illumination. The Rhythm Downlight fits in any standard recessed lighting housing and provides dynamic circadian lighting capabilities that automatically adjust the light’s properties to optimize sleep or wakefulness, depending on the users’ needs and schedule. Lighting Science is introducing the Rhythm Downlight and two other new products – an adaptable spot light and an intelligent commercial troffer – along with its Good Night™ sleep enhancing bulb and Awake & Alert™ energy enhancing light at the LVCC South Hall - Booth #26428, part of the Digital Health Summit Pavilion.

EPISTAR LAB has released a infrared (850nm) product with high photoelectric efficiency.

With 40 and 60-watt bulbs effectively banned on January 1st, consumers are left with two choices: LED (light emitting diodes) and CFL (compact fluorescent lamps).

Initial public offerings (IPOs) have reopened after a more than one year temporary break. China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has approved five companies on December 30th which include one company to be listed on Shanghai’s main board, one listed on Shenzhen SME board, and three GEB companies.

Optimistic about LED lighting long term developments , Taiwanese secondary optical lens manufacturer LedLink purchased a new factory in Yangzhou at the end of 2012 and expanded production capacity in 2013 which is to continue on into 2014.

The National Lighting Bureau’s Board of Directors give an interview on topics including the role of market channels, the role of education, photopic/scotopic effect, perception of brightness and more.

For most of us, light isn’t a luxury. It’s a basic need that, with the exception of planned power outages or a blown fuse, is very rarely unavailable.  At the flick of a switch, light illuminates our offices, classrooms, hospitals and homes, enabling us to carry out essential everyday tasks without worry. We dictate its start, intensity and end; we’re in control.