Nichia is aiming to extend its dominance to the UV market following its impressive showcase at the recent RadTech 2020 conference and exhibition in Orlando, Florida, USA. The company’s latest solutions remain ideal for curing applications, but an extended portfolio is of particular benefit, as UV is known to be incredibly effective in killing viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa.

Already at the forefront of the UV LED field through its established UV-A and UV-B series products, Nichia is extending its offerings to a new wide range of both SMD and COB LEDs. Additionally, Nichia’s portfolio is now being bolstered by the 2019 introduction of its 280nm Deep UV / UV-C LED. At RadTech, the new products attracted ample attention, with Nichia receiving extremely positive feedback and a high number of enquiries.

Erik Swenson, General Manager of Nichia America, commented, “The level of excitement and interest for solid-state UV lighting at RadTech was tremendous to experience. Much focus is justifiably on deep UV for sterilization, especially considering the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, many different creative approaches at various wavelengths are being developed. Similar to the rise of LED technology for general lighting, the UV LED sector is on a rapid growth trajectory with Nichia’s innovative solutions leading this market transformation.”

UV light technology has momentum and is a hot topic in the industry, as the light emitted kills biological impurities. In particular, LEDs in the UV-C band promise to revolutionize sterilization and disinfection, and could bring safer conditions to medical facilities – much needed in the current global environment.

Medical equipment OEMs can benefit from UV-C technology as it delivers infection prevention and control in portable devices. Equipment of this type can be deployed by healthcare workers at point-of-care, or to sterilize frequently touched surfaces such as personal electronics, medical trolleys and diagnostic devices.

(Image: Nichia)

The latest Nichia Deep UV LED, the 280nm NCSU334A, is designed to address mass-market demand for sterilization using solid-state lighting. Importantly, this small yet highly efficient LED delivers a typical radiant flux of 55mW (350mA) – nearly double the efficiency of competing LEDs. For designers, the solution delivers better system miniaturization and highly stable long-life performance compared to previous technologies.

Nichia expects its UV portfolio to be play a significant role in completely replacing conventional mercury lamps and their associated environmental issues. In turn, the technology will further develop a market that leverages the characteristics of solid-state lighting and hopefully address a major global issue.