Connectivity technologies and networking systems grow hand in hand with smart lighting. Bluetooth mesh networking, Wi-Fi, and other IoT technologies become a major smart lighting driver. The Asian Lighting Forum 2018 gathered experts and industry professionals to discuss the daily-life applications of smart lighting, connected systems and IoT.

LED Expo Thailand 2018, ASEAN’S largest international exhibition on LED products and technology, will be held from May 10-12, 2018 at the Challenger 1, IMPACT Exhibition Center, Bangkok, Thailand. The Show will attract around 15,000 visitors from across 53 countries. With a record-breaking number of exhibitors (around 300), the Expo continues to serve as an ideal platform for global buyers and exhibitors to exchange views on LED and Lighting trends.

The Hong Kong International Lighting Fair not only shows new trends in the lighting industry, but also provides a platform for buyers and vendors to build partnership. In this fair, experts in China’s lighting industry talked about how to explore domestic Chinese market, while foreign companies from the US, Spain and Australia shared their market preferences and purchasing experiences.

The market for LED grow light is thriving and anticipates rapid growth. According to the latest data of LEDinside, the global LED market for horticulture lighting recorded a value of US$52 million in 2017, and the number is expected to reach US$150 million by 2022, a CAGR of 24%. In response to this trend, the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair this year set an area for horticulture lighting, which showcase a wide range of grow light for both household and factory. LED manufacturers have been actively laying the foundation for the expanding market.

Lynk Labs Inc., an OEM component supplier of AC/HV LED and DC LED Lighting assemblies, modules, lamps, drivers and system solutions is expanding its focus on the "LED industry's unlicensed use, import and export of the company's broad and diversified intellectual property portfolio," according to Lynk officials.  To support the expansion of this plan, Lynk has formed Lynk IP Asset Management LLC which will have a primary objective of supporting licensees, enforcing IP rights and managing the proper use of Lynks' broad and growing patent portfolio in the LED lighting market.

After years of cross-line efforts from lighting, communication, and platform vendors, smart lighting has finally burgeoned, as shown by the exhibits at the 2018 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (spring edition). 

With the biennial Frankfurt Light + Building Fair just closing, the number of exhibitors at 2018 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring edition), held from April 6-9th, was much lower than last year, but many major lighting firms still set up booths at the fair to display their star products, such as T5 and T8 LED tubes by Forest Lighting, ceiling light and panel light by TCL Lighting, and filament lamp by Sky-Lighting. Some exhibitors displayed products targeting niche markets, underscoring their attempt to skip red-ocean competition amid the increasingly saturated lighting market.

The 10th edition of the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) was held from 6-9 April by Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). With more than 1,350 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions expected to take part this year, the fair included new participants from Canada, India, Macau and Malaysia. In line with trends in the lighting industry, four new thematic zones were launched this year to maximize business opportunities, namely Horticultural Lighting, Residential Lighting, Technical Lighting and Urban & Architectural Lighting.

The term ‘Internet of Things’ is a growing topic of conversation. What exactly is the Internet of Things (IoT) and what does smart lighting have to do with it?

The global lighting and LED industry is gearing up for one of their key trade fairs of the year in China. Industry peers converge on Guangzhou each year to do business, learn more about new market trends, and to look for inspiration to make the next breakthroughs in lighting technology and design. The 23rd edition of Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition returns from 9 ‒ 12 June 2018 at the China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China. With more than 2,600 exhibitors from around the world already confirmed to join, this year’s fair promises to be one of the largest editions to date.

How often have we heard a frazzled parent explain a teenager’s irritable mood on lack of sleep? We all know that sleep plays a critical role in our mood and our levels of concentration and alertness. Through numerous research studies, we now know that quality of sleep also affects long-term health and overall wellbeing. Poor sleep is linked to physical problems such as a weakened immune system and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

Bartco Lighting introduces its new multidirectional Fractalz Series LED luminaires to offer a wide array of configurations for custom design and function.

Heliospectra AB announces a second order from their value-added reseller Griffin Greenhouse Supplies for the E60 C plate full-spectrum series LED grow lights. The order value is SEK 4.6 million (USD $549,000). Delivery will take place and be visible in the accounts in Q3 2018.

Further studies have shown that children studying in classrooms that receive a high level of daylight — either naturally or replicated with full spectrum lighting — achieve better results than those receiving little or no natural light. The resulting increase in performance was as much as 26% in reading and 20% for maths — a significant improvement from a relatively simple adjustment to the learning environment.

As a Taiwan enterprise integrating LED R&D, production and sales as one, BRIGHTEK has focused on automotive LED market for many years. It exhibited a full series of automotive LED products and solutions at Shanghai ALE 2018 during March 28 to March 29. In the meantime, LEDinside had the opportunity to interview Zhong Xunhui, the special assistant of general manager in BRIGHTEK, who kindly shared BRIGHTEK’s development trend and plan in automotive LED market.

EVERLIGHT demonstrated monochromatic light LEDs that are widely applied for horticulture lighting. It developed a special series of products based on monochromatic light wavelength to cover PAR 450-745 nm from high to low power with SHWO 3535-ELB, 3030-ELB and 2835-ELB.

The Trump administration on April 4, 2018 published a list of 1300 Chinese exports and proposed to apply a 25% tariff on these products. However, the proposal would have limited impact on LED companies in China and Taiwan, according to LEDinside.

LEDVANCE, one of the world's leading general lighting providers for professional users and end consumers, is now 100 percent owned by the leading Chinese LED lighting company MLS. MLS has taken over the full ownership of LEDVANCE by means of a share deal with the strategic investor IDG Capital and the financial investor Yiwu. As part of the deal, IDG Capital and Yiwu will become shareholders of MLS via a joint investment.

Highlights of Lextar for this year are high-power LED modules, LEDs for slim luminaire, and IR sensor modules. In particular, the new IR sensor modules were showcased for the first time. They feature 3D image recognition and can be used in 3D cameras. In addition to that, the company also showcased its automotive LEDs.

Heliospectra AB announces a new order from their value-added reseller Climate Controls Ltd, UK. The order is for Heliospectras fully adjustable LX60-series full spectrum LED grow lights to be installed at the iconic Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew and at Wakehurst, Kew's wild botanic garden in Sussex (which is also the home of the Millennium seedbank). The order value is SEK 1.7 million (£ 150,000). Delivery will take place and be visible in the accounts in Q2 2018.

Luminus Devices, Inc., has released its breakthrough warm dimming and dynamic tuning modules that deliver exceptionally uniform color and control across any environment and enable consistency from fixture-to-fixture and between linear, down, and directional luminaires that are used in the same space. Unique to the new modules are on-board IC chips that allow exceptional color quality and uniformity in hospitality, commercial and office environments. 

Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting recently launched its new TV ad campaign ‘Wider light for brighter homes’. The ad campaign highlights the importance of choosing Wipro Garnet LED bulb, which is 70% wider than ordinary LED bulbs giving more brightness for homes. The new TVC aims at changing the consumer’s mindset with its honest instance by giving them a hard-hitting reason as to why they should change their lighting base from an ordinary low beam bulb to the all-new Wipro Garnet LED Bulb which has a “wide beam angle” which enables better light throw and makes rooms/objects better lit.

At Light and Building 2018, LEDinside had a face-to-face interview with Dr. Jacob Tarn, new CEO of LEDVANCE, who shared his insights on the market and the company’s strategic outlook.

We have seen at the trade show major lighting brands announce their determination to transition away from LED lighting companies to software-oriented IoT Solution providers. Companies in the lighting industry admitted their profits have been affected by severe price wars in the market and have tried to develop new business opportunities. However, in comparison, LEDVANCE chooses to not only keep but even expand its focus on general lighting as a globally active, full-scale LED lighting company.

San Jose, CA – March 27 – Today Lumileds introduced a new addition to its mid power family, the new LUXEON 3030 2D with a square LES, which is specifically optimized for high flux and maximum reliability in a variety of general lighting applications including downlights, high bay & low bay fixtures and outdoor lighting applications. “With the new LUXEON 3030 2D, we are able to offer the industry’s highest flux in a two-die mid power package, but also our hot-color targeted approach ensures superior color accuracy to that of other LED manufacturers,” said Mei Yi, Product Manager of LUXEON 3030 2D for Lumileds.

Students attending Dubai’s Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) need never flick a light switch or search for a tutorial or classroom again. Philips Lighting has equipped the university with state-of the-art connected LED lighting controlled by its Interact Office system. The technology enables faculty staff to control and personalize light settings using a smartphone app, while students can be guided to rooms using lighting-based indoor positioning technology. Such innovations bring to life Philips Lighting’s strategy to deliver new capabilities as value expands from lighting products to software and services.

Telensa, specializing in deployment of connected street lighting and Smart City applications, announced that it has been selected by Whakatane District Council to deploy its PLANet intelligent streetlighting system. The project, part of a New Zealand Transport Agency programme to convert existing road lighting to LED, will involve replacing Whakatane’s 2,500 streetlights with wirelessly managed LEDs. The project is due for completion in June 2018.

LEDinside unexpectedly witnessed that a company got caught red-handed for infringing another company’s patents and had to remove a part of their exhibits.

New Delhi: March 2018- The 6th annual LED Expo Thailand 2018, which is aimed at bringing together LED & lighting industry with buyers, specialists and suppliers to the Challenger 1, IMPACT Exhibition Center in Bangkok, Thailand on May 10-12, 2018. This year’s exhibit space is almost sold out. Over 300 exhibitors from around the globe are set to showcase their innovations at the Expo. Adding more room for special focus on your futuristic innovations, the organisers this year have come up with the theme FUTURE of LED for a SMART LIVING offering you more focused audience. Don’t let the opportunity pass by; book space now to maximize your business.

Light and Building 2018, one of the largest trade shows in Europe, gathers over 2,700 exhibitors and their advanced lighting and building automation technologies in Frankfurt. Those technologies reflect the highly dynamic nature of the sector and the rising demand for smart life and efficient energy management around the world. In particular, one of the most exciting things must be to learn what major companies announce and showcase at the fair. Here, LEDinside sees a trend that big lighting companies are now transforming themselves from lamp suppliers to IoT solution and service providers.