LED prices are anticipated to drop around 20 percent in 2014 and pricings are already at a level comparable to traditional lighting, according to an Ofweek report. At the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) LEDforum, Dr. Ke Zhang, Director of Business Development and Government Affair, Asia Pacific Osram and Dr. Guoqing Tang, General Manager, LED China, Samsung and Sr. Vice President, expressed their optimism about LED prices continual decline. The LED industry remains upbeat despite faltering macroeconomic growth for LED products, and manufacturers aggressive production expansions.  

Veeco  Instruments  Inc.  (Nasdaq:  VECO)  has  formed  a  strategic partnership  with  Agnitron  Technology,  Inc.,  a  focused  compound  semiconductor  research  and  development company specializing in the refurbishment and upgrade of Veeco legacy metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) equipment. 

Apple fans might be slightly disappointed to note the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 launch date might be pushed back to 2015, according to an Apple Insider report.

A video released by Chinese media Apple Daily shows rumored Apple iPhone 6 sapphire phone cover withstanding coin and key scratches, and does not deform when bending. The phone cover even emerges unscathed after being forcefully thrown to the ground, and being roasted by a lighter. It took a 1.6-ton car to break the cover to several dozen pieces.

The LEDinside editorial team has released our July edition feature, discussing in-depth the impact of the two biggest mergers in the industry so far this year: Epistar and Philips Lighting. 

LED chip manufacturer Genesis Photonics Inc. (GPI) announced that June revenue reached NT $397 million (US $13.2 million), down 5.82 percent MoM, but growth of 27.54 percent YoY. Revenue for 2Q14 was NT $1.2 billion, up 10.68 percent compared to 1Q14. 

It has been reported that Apple has been granted new three new sapphire glass related patents from the U.S. Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) on July 8, 2014. Discovered by AppleInsider, the three new patents cover a method to strengthen weak areas in sapphire display covers, application of sapphire to illuminate buttons, and embedded product details under a sapphire layer. 

China based Elech-Tech’s Yangzhou subsidiary has begun mass production of LED wafers. Equipment used at its Yangzhou factory are mainly 14x4” MOCVD wafer production units from U.S. manufacturer Veeco. The company currently has 12 units in operation with a yearly production capacity of 190,000 pcs, which can then produce 50,000 chips. 

China based Jufei Optoelectronics released their 2014 half year performance report on July 10, 2014. The company estimates net income available to stockholders to reach around RMB 76.57-97.88 million (US $12.3-15.7 million), up 25-50 percent YoY. 

The U.S. Department of Energy's Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium (MSSLC) has released the first updated version of its Model Specification for LED Roadway Luminaires. A “living document” that's updated as needed to reflect changes in technologies and associated standards, and to incorporate feedback from users, the model specification enables cities, utilities, and other local agencies to assemble effective bid documents for LED street lighting products.

The two German high-tech companies temicon GmbH and holotools GmbH join forces to expand their product portfolio in the area of micro and nanotechnologies. In the future they are going to operate under the corporate roof of temicon, continuing the well established brand “holotools” as their trademark for laser interference lithography. Both companies have been working together successfully over many years using complementary technologies in the production chain of high-tech components for optical, medical, solar and environmental applications.

The LED industry has entered into a period where penetration rate is rapidly increasing each quarter. Consumers continue to purchase traditional lighting products in large volumes, but distributors have begun reducing the proportion of products for sale. Manufacturers are facing saturated orders and rising lighting order visibility.

Chinese manufacturer Refond Optoelectronics (Refond Opto) released their 2014 half year financial report on July 9. The company estimates net income available to stockholders for the first half of the year to reach RMB 19.64-23.56 million (US $3.2-3.8 million), YoY drop of 10-25 percent. 

Epistar reported good revenue performance in June, benefitting from high backlight and lighting demands, according to the China Times. Consolidated revenue in June reached NT $2.82 billion (US $94.2 million), increase of 0.85 percent MoM, making it the fourth consecutive month with record high revenue. Lextar performance in June was equally good, hitting a single month high of NT $1.36 million. FOREPI reported revenue of NT $500 million in June, up 4.36 percent MoM. 

Lite-On Technology Corporation reported a combined revenue of NT $20.24 billion (US $676.35 million) for June 2014, up 3 percent MoM, and growth of 18 percent compared to the same period last year. Lite-On core products maintained growth on the back of rebounding end market demands and increased market share. Consolidated revenue from January to June this year was NT $110.2 billion, up 14 percent YoY. 

Taiwanese manufacturer Advanced Optoelectronic Technology (AOT) announced the company has been listed as of July 9, 2014, according to the Economic Daily News, with the backing of two strong parent companies which include Hon Hai and Nichia. AOT poses a threat to Taiwan based rival Everlight. It is estimated that Everlight’s net income will reach NT $5 per share this year, while AOT’s will approach NT $6 per share. 

China based San’an Optoelectronics (San’an Opto) released their 2014 half year (Jan. 1, 2014 to June 30, 2014) financial report, announcing a net profit of RMB 648 million (US $104.6 million), up 40 percent from RMB 462 million in the first half of 2013. 

The LED industry remains optimistic despite faltering macroeconomic growth for LED products. ”LED prices will drop around 20 percent this year. Semiconductors and automotive lighting will become the most profitable sectors within the lighting industry,” said Dr. Ke Zhang, Director of Business Development and Government Affairs, Asia Pacific at Osram.

Japanese Miriai Co. Ltd. Recently has built the world largest’s LED plant grow factory with LED lighting built-in to realize plants photosyhthesis. With a factory of  800 square meters, the LED plant grow factory now can produce 10,000 lettuces per day. 

GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) shares plummeted 11 percent after investment analysts downgraded GTAT stock ratings from buy to neutral on July 7, 2014.

Tridonic is concentrating its competence in pioneering LED and OLED light sources at its Jennersdorf site in Burgenland, Austria. Tridonic will be integrating successively its OLED activities, which up to now have been located in Dresden, Germany in the LED Competence Centre in Jennersdorf. 

Energy efficient CFL bulb’s hay day may soon be coming to an end. Chinese government CFL subsidies started in 2008 are to conclude, according to Chinese media CCTV2 on July 4, 2014. At present, the China Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance along with other relevant departments, are researching and promoting government subsidy policies for LED lighting products. The subsidy’s scope and amount will be adjusted according to the base characteristics of CFL lighting relative to those of LED lighting. 

U.K. based research company Context Information Security has discovered a security weak point in the LIFX smart LED light bulbs. “It is clear that in the dash to get onto the IoT bandwagon, security is not being prioritized as highly as it should be in many connected devices,” said Context Research Director Michael Jordon in an article with Electronics Weekly. 

July has been lately bearing a special meaning for the scientists of COMEDD (Center for Organic Materials and Electronic Devices Dresden): Right on that day two years ago the distinct Fraunhofer institution for research in the area of organic processes and electronics, under the name of Fraunhofer COMEDD, had been established.

LED chip manufacturer Epistar sudden announcement of absorbing FOREPI sent shockwaves throughout the industry this week. LEDinside gives a comprehensive overview of the benefits and potential issues surrounding this important industry merge of the year. Philips also announced on June 30, 2014, restructuring of LED component business Philips Lumileds with automotive lighting business. For more please check out below:

While most factories had closed their doors for the night yesterday, over 300 San’an Optoelectronic (San’an Opto) employees were hard at work burning the midnight oil, to pump out new wafers to meet increasing demands. 

The merger between LED chip manufacturer Epistar and FOREPI has generated much discussion in the industry. Industry insiders have different views on the trend of large LED upstream manufacturers dominating the market. While foreign investment firms are optimistic the merger will create a win-win situation for Epistar and FOREPI, other market insiders are concerned it will have a negative impact on downstream manufacturers.

Since Epistar’s announced the merger with Taiwan based LED manufacturer FOREPI, the industry has been concerned about rival San’an Optoelectronics (San’an Opto) potential to undermine Epistar’s management.  

GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT), announced a realignment of its manufacturing, engineering and supply chain resources to optimize effectiveness across its increasingly diversified business portfolio. The actions taken will align previously centralized personnel and operational resources directly with the company's various businesses, which include the rapidly ramping Arizona based sapphire materials business and expanding equipment businesses with applications ranging from solar and LED to power electronics, consumer electronics and industrial.

Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting showcases the world’s largest installation using luminous textiles, measuring 37 square meters at the Centrum Galerie shopping mall in Dresden.