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.

Glo-Blades are a new skating accessory that easily attach to both inline and ice skates and brightly illuminate the surface beneath the skaters’ feet, providing for a unique, new effect of “Skating on Light !”™ The product utilizes super bright LED lights and patented wireless technology, with easy mounting that allows the skater to readily swap them back and forth between skates.

Torafu Architects, a Japanese architect firm has created a bubbly LED bulb resembling a water balloon, according to a Spoon and Tamago report. The glass bulb which uses LEDs for lighting and is made from recycled fluorescent bulbs. The lights are diffused from the bubble structures within the bulb.

Forepi’s LED business hit rock bottom in 2013, said Jian Fengren, Chairman of Taiwanese LED chip manufacturer Forepi. However, the company will benefit from the gradual development of flip chip, HV LED, and package free products in 2014. The addition of injections from rebounding industrial demands will help the company reach its goal of turning the year’s loss into profit. With 10 consecutive quarters of loss, gross profit margin for the first three quarters is still -14.32 percent and legal persons believe improvements of gross profit margin in 2014  will be the key to turning loss into profit.

It's lights out for the common household incandescent bulb come Jan. 1, 2014, as the final step of the Energy Independence and Security Act takes effect phasing out 40- and 60-watt bulbs.

BigBright Malaysia, the sole distributor for Rishang LED lighting products in Malaysia, will be moving into a major expansion for 2014. BigBright is among the leading companies in Malaysia with a strong focus in LED lighting modules and components which are known to be very energy efficient and cost-effective.

Belvedere Vodka announces the launch of its first ever laser cut bottle with LED technology, the Belvedere Silver Saber. Just in time for New Year’s Eve festivities, the Silver Saber will feature a special lighting element that will completely illuminate the Belvedere bottle. It will be showcased during a New Years Eve party with musician Robin Thicke at the SLS Hotel South Beach and at selected top nightlife venues in NYC and LA with a nationwide rollout planned for key nightlife venues in 2014.

Evluma is taking orders for the latest release in its expanding line of utility-grade LED area and security lights, the 70W AreaMax. With twice the LEDs and a higher lumen output than the existing 40W models, the 70W AreaMax is designed to replace up to 200W HID lights. The AreaMax delivers more than light; it maximizes energy savings with controls and minimizes maintenance costs with built-in Photocontrol Failsafe Mode (PCFM) and new FaultCast BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) broadcasting.