作者：Blade

What kind of LED lighting products does African market need?

What kind of products does African led lights market need? This is the primary problem faced by the lighting companies who wish to enter the African market. The African market is the low-end applications in the lighting market, but low-end does not equal low-cost. Lighting products companies in China exist deviation in the product positioning. Mainly in the blind pursuit of high brightness, power is not conducive to lower costs. China’s product itself has a cost advantage. Wang Guohua pointed out that the African led down light market is not very high requirements in terms of product performance, lower cost, with basic lighting functions, reliability and durability to ensure that the product of three years without replacement, simple operation to meet the market demand.”

What kind of LED lighting products does African market need?

At present, 1.7 billion people in worldwide living in the dark. In Africa alone, there are 500 million people who live without electricity. For an inspection who tour the lighting conditions of the African market. This is absolutely not just a bunch of numbers, their personal life feel the desire for bright people in Africa. “About 90 percent of the rural population in Africa has no electricity supply. The small streets of many cities basically have no street lights, one evening, the small vendors in the market will lose the hustle and bustle during the day.” Basic lighting and municipal lighting market is the most potential market in Africa and it is in urgent need of development.  However, the off-grid solar lighting products are the most suitable one. the indoor small portable lights, a 5-watt solar LED bulbs, emergency lights, etc can meet the basic lighting needs, and which are the promoting product in the near future. It it noteworthy that the differences of the existing street lights of the African market and China’s domestic development, many parts of Africa market and China’s domestic development. Many parts of Africa is directly tried to telephone poles, and in order to prevent damage to the shell on some street lights and also wrapped around a circle barbed wire.  Looking from the installation form, the optical configuration can not achieve the lighting effect, which requires enterprise to think about how to integrate our existing technology, and combine with local LED lighting products and installation conditions.”

 

 

More than 90% domestic LED producers need loan

On 24th July, a Fund and Industry Strategy Symposium was held in Shenzheng by Shenzheng LED Industry Federation and the Minsheng Bank. 32 LED lights manufacturers attended this Symposium, more than 90% of which expressed their willingness to obtain loan. And about 80% will spend this money on development their chip technology, only 20% indicated that they would like to this money for other purposes. And more than 70% domestic LED producers intended to apply for a loan of more than 250 million yuan.

 

On 24th July, a Fund and Industry Strategy Symposium was held in Shenzheng by Shenzheng LED Industry Federation and the Minsheng Bank.

 

Cao Yon, Minister of the Financial Services introduced that among 600 members (most of them are LED lighting producers), 39 enrolled in the meeting but only 32 took part in. According to the size of this Symposium, there should be more than 50 companies plan to establish the fund, with a total amount of 10 million yuan. That means each company should put at least 200 thousands into this fund pool. In 20 pieces valid questionnaires, more than 90% LED tubes enterprises applied for loan. One of them indicated that the amount of mutual fund loans is much higher than that of small loan companies. Besides, the 10% annual interest rate is also much lower than 30% of small loan companies. “We need a lot of money, but lack of confidence to go to banks. Mutual fund can really do us a favor in this part.”

 

Meanwhile, Minsheng Bank indicated that they will limit the large amount loans with a certain percentage of control. Loans larger than2.5 million yuan should be under rigid restrictions. 7 of these 32 domestic LED producers have met the requirements of large amount requirements and expressed their desire to apply for loans larger than 2.5 million yuan. There is limited cash available and many businesses asking, the organizer acknowledged. Loan ratio can be adjusted according to the overall participating situation of fund companies. For example, if more giant jointed into, the ratio of large amount loans will be increase as well.

 

Among all these enterprises, about 45% plan to use this money to alleviate the working capital pressures; 20% of them for restructuring; and 80% will spend this money on technology research and development; 55% indicated that they are planning to expand the production scale.

Technical data of high-power LED street light

With the development of LED lighting technology, the average lighting efficiency of high-power LED street lights can reach up to 80lm/W, making the application of LED street lighting possible in most countries. LED lights, especially high-power LED street lights are impacting the traditional street lighting market at a rapid pace.

 

With the development of LED lighting technology, the average lighting efficiency of high-power LED street lights can reach up to 80lm/W, making the application of LED street lighting possible in most countries.

 

LED street lamps with power consumption more than 30W can be defined as high-power LED street lamps. The current street lighting standard is uniformity of road surface illuminance. The basic requirement of LED lighting products is 0.48 of this value. And the spot ratio should be 1:2. (1/2 center spot should reach up a lumen output of 25lux, and 15lux for 1/4 center spot, at least 4lux for spot 16 meters far away from center spot). Most lens materials selling on the market is improved optical materials, with a luminousness of 93%, can working within -38℃-90℃, without any ultraviolent rays. LED street lighting has good prospects new-born cities. Color temperature and other properties will not change with the adjustment of light intensities.

 

High-power LED street lights start to emerge in some large cities, such like New York, Tokyo, Paris, and Beijing. In order to strengthen the environmental protection awareness, designers are more willing to use them together with solar panels. The outland landscape property made it is possible for LED street lights using solar energy. Even those manufacturers who are not capable of producing solar panels still make LED street lights which can directly used with solar panels. These lamps are more likely related to intelligent technology. Light sensors are typically applied to measure the surrounding light intensity to decide a specific point to trigger these lamps. In the following sections, we will give some technical data of high-power LED street lights.

 

Lighting efficiency should be higher than 17%. (Amount of solar energy per square is 1000W, and the actual utilization is 170W)

 

LED street lamp lenses should have rectangular spots, using PMMA optical materials, with an luminousness higher than 93% and heat durable.

 

The average uniformity of road surface illuminance should be 0.48.

 

1/2 center spot should reach up a lumen output of 25lux, and 15lux for 1/4 center spot, at least 4lux for spot 16 meters far away from center spot.

 

Humidity adaptation should smaller than 95%.

 

Warranty: 2 years.

Taiwan’s LED industry wants to use the London Olympics to reverse the downturn

From early May, Taiwan media has been flooded with various reports of the continuous depressed state of Taiwan’s LED industry. Lacking for funds and core technology, facing a saturated and highly competitive market at home, all kinds of problems exerted negative influences on local LED lights manufacturing. With the approaching of the London Olympic Games, some experts considered this as a good opportunity to turn the situation around. Many manufacturers also prepared to grab the chance to create a re-booming.

 

Taiwan’s LED industry wants to use the Olympics to reverse the downturn

 

It is reported that the London Olympics will apply mobile devices to live matches. Meanwhile, solar LED street lighting products will be used on roads nearby competition venues. During the preparation time, the UK Government has purchased a large number of solar LED street lighting products from Taiwan and China. The exportation of LED lights in Taiwan has increased by nearly 10% in the past two years. The average growth rate of solar LED street lights is around 35%.

 

As the largest LED manufacturer and exporter in Taiwan, EveryLight suggested that Taiwan’s LED industry was under pressure for a long time. “The local market is actually saturated. You can hardly expect a re-booming. The only way out is transferring our sight from local market to the international market. China is a primary consideration. Mainland has the largest market and LED manufacturing. We are also looking for other breakthrough, and the London Olympic Games will be a good opportunity for us. ” According to their explains, the major competitors of EveryLight is Seoul Semiconductor (also a large LED manufacturer from Korea), Lumen-Max (another LED giant in Taiwan) and other LED producers in Mainland.

 

Some other LED producers still treated China as the largest and the most important market for them. “In LED lighting area, although we have some clients from North America and Europe, but China is still the most important one. We have no willing to move targets recently.”

 

Similarly, LED chip market also suffered fierce competitions. Many local LED chip manufacturers are looking for good chances to shift their focus to other markets. Overall, Taiwan’s LED industry is in a downturn condition. It is suggested that how to turn the table will be a long-term and not-easy issue.

Two major causes of the high price of small LED lights

So far, LED lighting technology still hardly accepted by ordinary people. In fact, LED lights have huge potential in domestic indoor lighting market. But as a result of the high prices, LED lights only have small progresses in this area. Relatively, LED high-power LED lamps had much better performance on the market. The energy-saving and environmental friendly advantages can be more showed up among high-power/large LED lamps. Thus the spread of these lamps are far more rapid than low-power/small LED lights.

 

So far, LED lighting technology still hardly accepted by ordinary people. In fact, LED lights have huge potential in domestic indoor lighting market.

 

In recent years, many LED manufacturers started to convert their energy and time on large LED lighting applications, such like LED High Bay Lights, LED Street Lights. High costs, fierce competitions and limited demands led a much slower development to small LED lights. “We are so willing to accept new lighting technology. The working principles of LED sounds pretty good, but they are too expensive, either. If the current price can reduce by 1/3, I’m going to replace all lights in my house by LED lights.” said one of consumers during the 2012 International LED Fair held in Guangzhou.

 

Why they coasts so much? Here we will give out two major causes of the high price of small LED lights.

 

Lacking of core technology. Core chip technologies belong to the upstream of LED lighting industry. Unfortunately, more than 85% LED chip technologies are under the control of overseas competitors. Although we have occupied more than 50% manufacturing value in LED lighting products, we earned the least among them. With the continuous improvement of producing technique, it was estimated that the cost of LED chips will be reduced by 20% per year. LED chips cost is the main part (around 60%) of LED lamp costs. If LED chip costs can maintain this dropping trend, by 2015, LED light prices can reach a similar level with energy-saving lights.

 

Cooling problems. Most domestic LED lighting producers tend to limit the cooling section costs within 5%. In order to achieve this goal, there are two points need to be noticed: 1. The short the path, the better the cooling effects. Here path means heat conducting path, including aluminum layers, heat sinks and cooling fins. 2. Thermal resistance. Multi-cooling-path is necessary for most LED lighting applications.

 

Once the high price of small LED lights problem has been solved, LED indoors lighting market could rapid developed.

LRC published a research report for LED airfield lighting

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) of Renss ELaer Poly Technical Institute has recently published a research report for LED airfield lighting, indicating that airport lighting should select suitable LED lighting products according to their specific conditions.

The Lighting Research Center (LRC) of Renss ELaer Poly Technical Institute has recently published a research report for LED airfield lighting, indicating that airport lighting should select suitable LED lighting products according to their specific conditions.

“Issues with use of LED airfield lighting：ACRP synthesis 35” was published by LRC of of Renss ELaer Poly Technical Institute, which suggested that as the most environmental friendly and energy saving lighting technology on the earth, LED lights is so to say the best lighting equipments for air ports. Replacing traditional airfield lighting technology with LED applications can firstly reduce the costs (maintenance costs primarily) dramatically. Traditional airfield lighting systems are generally based on filament lamps.

 

Transportation Research Board (TRB) of National Academies and Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACPR, which is also one of the main sponsors of this project) published this report together.

 

LRC had a long-term co-operation with FAA. Using solid lighting technology was recently put forward between them. Dr. John Bullough, the senior fellow of LRC and also the author of this report explained that “Obviously, LED airfield lighting can save more money for airports. But filament lamps have been on service for a long time. Almost every airport power supplying system in the world is based on filament lighting technology. Applying LED airfield lighting is not as simple as we though, we may probably have to replace the entire power system as well. ” Flat lands can let LED lighting products perform better, having higher penetration.

 

In the early stage of LED airport lighting industry, there are some “Compatibility Problems” between solid lighting system and airports. These problems have been gradually resolved during a two-year development. This report was based on a large amount of data from the detailed examines of more than 20 air ports all over the world. This report pointed out that despite the high cost of preparation, these cost will be compensate within a few years after installation LED lamps. Upgrade electricity infrastructure can improve the energy-saving capacity and the reliability of the entire airfield lighting system. In accordance with LRC, FAA is currently on a new research report for basic airfield lighting infrastructure.


LED bulbs will become cheaper than traditional filament bulbs?

With the rapid development of LED lights and continuous dropping of cost, prices for LED lights kept on reducing as well. Do you know how to choose the most suitable LED lighting products for your living places?

With the rapid development of LED lights and continuous dropping of cost, prices for LED lights kept on reducing as well.

With the enhancement of environmental protection awareness and the increase of living standard, more and more consumers are inclined to buy green and health-harmless products. In the lighting area, they would like to prefer more energy-saving and healthier lighting products. As if to respond the requests of customers, LED technology was developed during this period of time. LED lighting products can save more energy, have higher lighting efficiencies and longer service lives, the wide spreading of which has become a trend. This new born technology has many disadvantages, either. The expensive selling prices of indoors LED lighting products (such as LED bulbs) made them hardly be accepted by ordinary people. However, things are moving into the right direction. With the constant increase of production and continuous decrease of cost, experts estimated that by 2015, production cost of LED bulbs will drop to around 1.5USD.

 

Unlike traditional filament bulbs, LED bulbs are constituted by LED chip modules, LED components, cooling sections, metal covers, etc.. It is rather difficult to restrict the budget under a reasonable level. Currently, the cost ratio of these three main parts is about 1:1:1. It is expected that by 2015, the costs of LED products will be reduced to 1/5.

 

Currently, the average selling price for first-line brand LED bulbs (like Phillips, OSRAM) is about 90 yuan, while the average price for three-line bulbs is around 40 yuan. Compare with first-line energy-saving lamps on the market, which normally costs 10 yuan, LED bulbs are far more expensive. During the interview, some customers expressed their desire to replace filament bulbs with LED lamps. If the price can be drop to the current energy-saving lamps’ level, there will be no need to take any more considerations.

 

LEDs’ light emitting principles and internal structures determined that they can be made in alternative modes, like dimmable, RBG, or even intelligent. Designers indicated that dimmable LED bulbs can automatically adjust the color and brightness of light, which cannot be realized by any other traditional lamps. In additional, LED lamps with embedded CU also provide users a wireless remote control.


Common sense and errors in LED lights purchase

Some errors consumers may encounter in the daily LED lights purchase. Many customers may meet with such situations more or less: when they intend to buy some LED lighting products, shop keepers may give some malicious misleading, like “this lamp has three LED chips while that one only has one chip. This lamp can provide three time brightness than that one.” This is not true. LED chips from different LED manufacturers have different lumen outputs and light efficiencies due to distinguished LED technologies. LED chips on the market can be classified as high-power LEDs, mid-power LEDs, low-power LEDs, etc. For example, the normal lumen output of a mid-power LED chip is around 45lm, while a high-power LED chip can have a lumen output around 120lm. It is not surprisingly that single-LED lamps can emit brighter light than three-LED lamps. On the other hand, the production cost of high-power LED chips is normally higher than low-power LED chips.

Many customers may meet with such situations more or less: when they intend to buy some LED lighting products, shop keepers may give some malicious misleading, like “this lamp has three LED chips while that one only has one chip.

Some customers still used traditional selecting methods (40CD, 60CD), which are typically used on purchasing filament lamps, when choose LED lights. Not every high-brightness LED lamps will consume more energy. This is another misunderstanding in LED lights purchase. In fact, the brightness of lamps can be described by a technical term: luminous flux or lumen output (lm). Comparing the light intensity of two LED lamps should compare the lumen outputs rather than the power consumption. Unlike filament lighting technology, which was developing for more than 100 years, the new-born LED technology is in process of huge innovations. If a 7W LED lamp consumed less power than an 8W LED lamp, it is proved that the 7W LED lamp has a higher light efficiency. Since most of customers are not familiar with the technical term: lumen, some manufacturers may probably mark “Equivalent to 40W Filament Lamps” on their products to help understanding.

 

Compared with traditional filament lamps and energy-saving lights, LED lighting products have a lot of advantages. However, there are also some disadvantages, such like the high selling prices. Besides, LED lights cannot work in high temperatures. If the temperature of electronic components increased by 10℃, the service life of this lamp will be dropped by half. LED manufacturers have to improve their cooling technique and meanwhile control the production cost within a reasonable range.


LED Grow Lights provide sunlight for “underwater” vegetables

Viewed led lights from afar, this place has no differences with other factories, except for staffs dressed in white lab coats. When we entered inside, it is totally different: rows of shelves, bright lights, orderly infusion tubes and plants grew in the “water”. This is the first domestic IT Plant Factory – Shandong Green Dragon Ecological Agriculture Demonstration Garden (SGDEADG).

 Viewed from afar, this place has no differences with other factories, except for staffs dressed in white lab coats.

“You should never underestimate this only 616 square meters workshop. It was able to produce hundreds of tons of vegetables per year.” Introduced by Enguo Yang, the general manager of SGDEADG. Plant Factory concept was first proposed by Japan. The essence of which is using computers to control the raise (produce) vegetables. In 2010, SGDEADG started to cooperate with powernet and introduced advanced technology and equipments from Japan. With the guidance and technical supports from Tsinghua University, China Agricultural University, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, SGDEADG improved the existing IT Plant technology to realize the domestication of technology and equipments.

 

The entire plant factory is completely sealed, maintaining in a constant-temperature and constant-humidity state. Modern monitoring equipments and all kinds of measuring sensors have been installed in every corner to monitor and control the air compositions. It is noticed that 960 pieces of led grow lights uk were hanging on the ceiling, letting out red and blue rays. “These led grow lights uk can completely replace the sunlight. The average luminous flux near the ground is about 450lm, which is sufficient for our plains. Besides, these lamps maintained 24-hour red-blue alternative rays but cost only a very limited energy. This is really amazing.” Said Mr. Yang.

 

Workers there all had abundant professional knowledge or received professional trainings. They used nutrient solution instead of soil to raise plants and were joking as vegetables underwater. Insect nets and supporting isolation devices can effectively prevent the intrusion of pathogens. By the comprehensive applying of multiple sophisticated automated systems, SGDEADG has realized the accurate control of plant growth, and thus provided the best growing environment for vegetables. When asked why they chose led grow lights uk as lighting sources, Mr. Yang replied: “LED is the most advanced lighting technology currently. They can generate one-direction rays, like red rays and blue rays, which is just need by vegetables. These lamps can make our plants grow even faster.”


LED recycling has become a new topic

At present, LED lighting technology has been widely spread and gradually taken the place of traditional filament lamps. In the issue of environmental protection, LED is superior to traditional lights. It is the most advance lighting technology currently, which is not only energy-saving but also harmless to human body and environmental friendly. Since LED lights are usually reliable and can be used for a long term. Only a very few of people take their cycling into account. This article will talk about some notice points of LED recycling.

At present, LED lighting technology has been widely spread and gradually taken the place of traditional filament lamps.

LED lamps will maintain an environmental friendly condition in their service lives. Research results indicated that more than 95% LED lamps are recyclable. Recycling companies will buy these scrapped LED lighting products at low prices. LED products have no health-hazard materials, which have been classified in RoHS standard. RoHS certification was implemented in January of 2006 in England. This standard has rigid restrictions on toxic and health-hazard substances using for electrical and electronic equipments. Mercury-containing lead, cadmium and other toxic substances has been defined as toxic and restricted in selling. LED lamp bodies are usually made by aluminum alloy, which completely meet this standard and can be recovered.

 

The general process of LED recycling is crushing and lamp body separation. Glasses will be transferred into a magnetic field which can separate any non-ferrous metals. In order to remove the aluminum and lead of LED lights, non-ferrous metal separators blasted among crushed glass, leading metals into an isolated slot. The rest of glass and aluminum can be made into other products. Glass will not downgrade due to recovery. It can be repeated recycling.

 

If we can recover LED lighting products in right ways, they will become even more environmental friendly. A recent study from University of California demonstrated that most LED lights contained a high proportion of nickel. RGB LED lights contained high levels of lead and arsenic. Since LED products are mainly made by aluminum alloy, they cannot be directly discarded like bulbs. Burying will lead to a long-term damage to the earth. In view of the high demand of LED lights in recent years, the LED recycling became far more important than extend their service lives. Recycling will become a essential point for LED’s sustainable development.