Soraa, a provider of in GaN on GaN LED technology, launched today the first line of high color and white rendering, high light output LED GU10 230V dimmable lamps. Uniquely, the company has released a 10o spot version, not available in halogen or from other LED manufacturers, as well as a 25o version that has a peak intensity higher than halogen and all other LED GU10 products. Now customers can buy transformer-free, full visible spectrum Soraa LED GU10 lamps that spectacularly render colors and whites; without beam striations, artifacts or multiple shadows visible in other manufacturer’s LED products.

“The Soraa GU10 lamps provide unmatched light output, perfectly uniform beams, exceptional rendering of colors and whites, full dimmability, long lamp life, dramatically improved energy efficiency, and excellent compatibility.” said Jeff Parker, CEO of Soraa. “All these features are made possible through our proprietary GaN on GaN LED technology and innovative lamp design.”

The company’s continuous full visible spectrum Soraa Vivid 2 LED GU10 lamps, with a CRI of 95 and R9 greater than 90, render deep reds and cyans dramatically and accurately and have no artificial spectral “blue-peak.” And just like natural light, the violet component of the full visible spectrum makes whites in fabrics and fibers stand out in their intended brightness and tint.

Soraa’s GaN on GaN LEDs have exceptionally high light density, emitting ten times more light per unit area of LED material than LEDs built on lower quality foreign substrates. As a result, the company’s lamps have a single light source that casts a perfect beam and a single sharp shadow, bringing out textures and contrast to flawlessly illuminate any environment.

“With our new LED GU10 lamps, customers no longer need a transformer and we’ve made available beam and output options that were previously unattainable in the market, because of limitations with all other technologies. Additionally, our products are ideally suited for fully enclosed, non-ventilated fixtures—a place where other LED lamps struggle to perform,” added Parker.

Built with design flexibility in mind, Soraa’s new LED GU10 lamps are available in a wide range of light output, beam angles and color temperatures. Soraa’s Premium 2 LED GU10 10o lamp has a peak intensity of 7760Cd and 2420Cd for the 25o option—twice that of halogen. The LED GU10 lamps are available in 10o, 25o, 36o, and 60o beam angles and 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, and 5000K color temperatures. Plus, the company’s 10o lamp works with its award-winning magnetic accessory SNAP System.  With a simple magnetic accessory attachment, beam shapes can be altered and color temperature can be modified, allowing endless design and display possibilities.

Soraa’s new LED GU10 lamps are compatible with a very wide range of dimmers, having been tested and characterized extensively through its Works with Soraa program. And the company’s novel heatsink design and thermal management system makes its lamps suitable for use in fully enclosed, non-ventilated fixtures, damp locations and outdoor applications.

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the “Global LED Chip Market & Forecasts Report, 2016” report to their offering.

One of the major drivers in this market is the growing significance of LED chips. The LED-based device manufacturers are attaching increasing significance to LED chips. This is because the majority of the product differentiation in LED devices is dependent on the LED chips used as a base for the LED lighting devices. Thus, the importance of LED chips has been increasing in the LED Lighting industry.

Luminous efficacy refers to the amount of electrical power required to produce a certain intensity of light in lumens per watt. The vendors in the market are attaching more significance to improving luminous efficacy due to the presence of various opportunities to improve luminous efficacy along the value chain. Furthermore, at epitaxy level, one of the key drivers fueling the market is the higher level of sophistication in the MOCVD. Some of the options evaluated by the vendors include more efficient production handling and better choice of layer material, especially the substrate material on which the light-emitting layers are deposited. At a chip level, multiple activities to enhance luminous efficacy are currently being tested. All these activities in the industry will tend to enhance the growth prospects of the market.

Further, the report states that one of the key challenges in the market is the cyclical nature of the industry. The fluctuation in demand from the LED lighting device manufacturers is one of the major factors curtailing the growth in the market as it lowers the profitability of the market. The increasing fluctuations in demand could constrain the market growth during the forecast period.

Universal Lighting Technologies, Inc. is starting the year on a high note with the announcement of its new corporate headquarters at 51 Century Blvd., Suite 230 in Nashville, Tennessee. Not only does the new building better position the company for growth, but it also comes newly equipped with innovative and energy-efficient lighting incorporated throughout the office, including updated meeting room technology for greater capabilities to network with customers.

“Universal Lighting has seen significant growth over the past few years since we joined the Panasonic family,” said Chris Holstein, Vice President of Marketing. “We’re excited to start the next chapter in our company’s future as we make the move to a new home where the lighting technology reflects the very products that have led to our success.”

The new corporate office positions the company for greater growth and includes leading designs and technologies from all members of the Panasonic Lighting Americas group.

LED technologies in the facility include LED downlights that use EVERLINE LED Drivers and Chip on Board LED Modules with 0–10V dimming controls. Existing recessed troffer lighting fixtures were upgraded with LED retrofit kits and EVERLINE linear LED modules to provide high efficiency lighting with high quality color and an extremely long rated life while being dimmable. DCL control technology allows the LED drivers to receive communications over the power line, providing energy management load shedding capabilities.

Universal Lighting’s new headquarters incorporates leading fluorescent technologies, including DEMANDflex ballasts, as well as six-lamp T8 fixtures installed throughout the unique and innovative office space. The lighting system also utilizes VariPRO 0–10V dimming in the main entry. Both technologies are incorporated with a Dialog Control System and occupancy sensors from Panasonic’s Douglas Lighting Controls for local zone control, manual overrides and facility scheduling.

Xicato, a developer of superior light quality from LED modules, announced today that it has relocated its San Jose headquarters to accommodate a new manufacturing line for the company’s next generation of products. The new 24 thousand-square-foot space is more than double the size of Xicato’s previous San Jose facility. The privately held company has invested millions of dollars in equipment and resources to meet the increasing global demand for its LED modules.

“Investment in our U.S. operations enables Xicato to rapidly develop and introduce innovative technologies and products for the global lighting industry and starting next month we will transition to full manufacturing mode,” said Menko de Roos, CEO of Xicato. “Our move timeframe was very short, and it was critical that the build-out and permitting went smoothly and matched our equipment arrival schedule. The City of San Jose’s appointment-based permitting process worked well and allowed us to meet critical milestones and get our operations up and running.”

Xicato’s new space includes areas for manufacturing, research and development labs and testing facilities for its LED modules. Class 100K cleanroom space is dedicated to a new manufacturing line; expanded reliability testing labs ensure product longevity and quality.

Xicato’s focus continues to be the delivery of quality light. The new manufacturing facility allows Xicato’s next generation of products to offer significantly improved efficiency to reduce energy use and costs, lowers the cost of Xicato’s modules and ushers in a new era of intelligent lighting – Lighting 2.0.

Hundreds of luminaires and applications ranging from retail shops to bars and restaurants, to homes, offices and retail locations can be viewed in Xicato’s web galleries on the company’s website.

Lighting designers, interior designers and others achieve their desired emotional impact using three different light types created by the company.

Standard Series light provides a smooth spectrum of light that feels natural and superior to ceramic metal halide and fluorescent lamps.

Artist Series light is indistinguishable from halogen-based light and gives Artist Series light an even richer feel compared to other sources.

Vibrant Series light brings out vivid, saturated colors and the details of texture for compelling and eye-catching visuals that capture and hold consumers’ attention.

The company’s new address is 101 Daggett Drive, San Jose, CA 95134, USA.

The penetration of gallium nitride-on-silicon (GaN-on-Si) wafers into the light-emitting diode (LED) market is forecast to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 69 percent from 2013 to 2020, by which time they will account for 40 percent of all GaN LEDs manufactured, according to a new report from IHS Inc.

In 2013, 95 percent of GaN LEDs will be manufactured on sapphire wafers, while only 1 percent will be manufactured on silicon wafers. The growth in the manufacturing of GaN-on-Si LEDs between 2013 and 2020 will take market share from both sapphire and silicon carbide wafers.

The figure below shows the GaN-on-Si LED market share outlook in terms of revenue for the packaged LED market.

“Manufacturing large ingots made from sapphire is difficult, whereas silicon wafers are available from 8 inches up to 12 inches and are generally cheaper and more abundant,” said Dkins Cho, senior analyst for lighting and LEDs at IHS. “There is a large pre-existing industry for silicon-based manufacturing that is leveraged to create economies of scale and reduce the cost of an LED.”

Repurposing manufacturing facilities to accommodate the shift toward GaN-on-Si LEDs is generally accepted to require minimal investment. Companies that previously manufactured CMOS semiconductors already own legacy 8-inch CMOS fabrication units that can be converted for LED production with a small modification. These companies already have in-house expertise and technology associated with silicon-based processes.

“Many of the CMOS semiconductor manufacturers already have excellent inspection tools, unlike traditional LED companies,” Cho said. “This could help increase their process yield through in-situ monitoring. However, it is unlikely the repurposing will happen overnight; instead we forecast a shift during the coming years.”

Dow Corning introduced new Dow Corning MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone at Strategies in Light Europe 2013. This highly reflective white material extends the excellent photo-thermal stability and high-moldability that typifies Dow Corning’s award-winning optical-grade Moldable Silicone family to the reflective elements of LED lamp and luminaire applications. Dow Corning MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone targets reflectivity as high as 98 percent to help further boost light output from LED devices, improve overall energy efficiency and prolong device reliability.

“Dow Corning is committed to driving new innovations in current and next-generation LED lighting designs and expanding opportunities for solid-state sources to compete with traditional illumination sources in more demanding high-intensity lighting applications,” said Hugo da Silva, global industry director, LED Lighting at Dow Corning. “Our advanced new Dow Corning MS-2002 Silicone extends the design, processing and performance benefits of our Moldable Silicone portfolio beyond transparent LED lens elements to include the reflective elements of LED lamp and luminaire applications.”

Like other products in Dow Corning’s line of high-performance LED silicones, its advanced new Dow Corning MS-2002 Silicone delivers mechanical, thermal and optical stability at temperatures exceeding 150° C. That means, unlike epoxies, polycarbonate, acrylic and other conventional LED materials, Dow Corning MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone retains superb color, reflectance and mechanical performance over the lifetime of an LED lamp or luminaire without yellowing or physical degradation. As the market demands LED sources to deliver more intense light from comparatively smaller package sizes, these qualities are highly desirable for reflective LED materials.

The easy processability and high moldability of Dow Corning MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone also greatly expands design latitudes for LED lamp and luminaire applications. With its high reflectivity and bright white color, this new high-performance silicone product does not require the additional mixture of liquid silicone rubber or color pigmentation. Its extreme thermal and optical stability enables development of parts with direct contact with LED dies without air gaps between the die and optics, avoiding design limits common with organic LED materials.

Dow Corning MS-2002 Moldable White Reflector Silicone also exhibits excellent feature reproduction, which allows mold undercuts or co-molding with Dow Corning transparent materials. It is a high viscosity, high 84 Shore A hardness, fast-curing material able to produce fine details and deliver good resistance to environmental aging.

Dow Corning MS-2002 Silicone, as well as other products from Dow Corning’s portfolio of solutions for LED lamps and luminaires, are being featured at the company’s booth (Booth B25) at Strategies in Light Europe.

The new Z5-M1 series from Seoul Semiconductor has been optimized to deliver maximum efficacy and luminous flux with an industry standard 3535 surface mount package. The new Z5-M1 combines high light output, reliability, and color uniformity to deliver up to 132 lumens per watt at 350mA, (85°C junction temperature, 80 CRI minimum) in warm white (3000K). In cool white (6000K), the Z5-M1 delivers up to 150 lumens per watt at 350mA (85°C junction temperature, 70 CRI minimum). The Z5-M1 series is available in the full Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) range of 2600K – 7000K and two CRI options to provide lamp and luminaire manufacturers with maximum flexibility.

The advancements made in chip architecture and phosphor technology are the key ingredients to the performance enhancement of the new Z5-M1 series. The improved efficacy helps lighting manufacturers use fewer LEDs in their system designs which translate to lower system costs. The Z5-M1 can be operated from 150mA to 1.5A making them suitable for a wide range of general illumination applications from street and area lighting to replacement lamps to high output flashlights. This new product also features excellent color uniformity over angle based on a new phosphor coating technology which enables high quality directional light sources. J.B Choi, President of the Lighting Division for Seoul Semiconductor, said: “The efficacy enhancements in the new Z5-M1 series not only ensure a reduction in luminaire development costs incurred by our customers, but also enable the best possible color over angle homogeneity with the new phosphor coating technology.”

Seoul Semiconductor manufacturers and packages a wide selection of light emitting diodes (LEDs) for the automotive, general illumination lighting, appliance, signage and back lighting markets. The company is the world’s fifth largest LED supplier, holding more than 10,000 patents globally, while offering a wide range of LED technology and production capacity in areas such as “nPola”, deep UV LEDs, “Acrich”, the world’s first commercially produced AC LED, and “Acrich MJT – Multi-Junction Technology” a proprietary family of high-voltage LEDs.

SemiLEDs Corporation today announced the introduction and release of the 10-Watt M63 RGBW integrated 6363 LED. The 4-channel M63 RGBW delivers over 410 total lumens of combined red, green, blue and white light output. The compact 6.3mm x 6.3mm dimensions enable the M63 RGBW to fit in a wide range of color-changing applications, including entertainment (stage lights, backdrops and spotlighting), large scale displays, and color-adjustable luminaires for building facade, wall washing or specialized interior luminaires.

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“The M63 RGBW demonstrates a new level of LED product integration from SemiLEDs,” commented Dr. Ilkan Cokgor, Executive VP of Sales and Marketing for SemiLEDs. “By combining three colors, plus an independent phosphor-coated white emitter, onto a single LED package, our customers will be able to better optimize the optical and thermal properties of their design, while minimizing the manufacturing complexities of their luminaires or large scale displays. This integrated approach is enabled by our well-validated and robust metal vertical LED product portfolio, which can be reliably driven harder to deliver higher than average lumen density and increase the lumens per dollar,” Dr. Cokgor added.

The integrated package is the first to bring together SemiLEDs vertical, white chip, and ceramic packaging technologies. Measuring just 6.3mm on a side (39.7 square mm/.06 square inch), the compact multi-color LED opens the door to arrays with cumulative lumen-densities in excess of 6000 lumens per square inch. Beyond just the size and potential for high-lumen densities, the square footprint also greatly simplifies color mixing and integration with secondary optics, including narrow beam spotlights which benefit from the symmetry and depend upon minimized source sizes. When compared to a strictly RGB source, the addition of discrete white to the color changing LED architecture enables a broader spectrum and more natural white palette to be projected. The white source in the M63 RGB delivers 100 lumens per watt at a correlated color temperature (CCT) of 6300K to 8000K. By its nature, an RGBW LED should include a cool-white source to compliment the additive nature of the colors in the integrated device.

“Every current technology trend is towards higher integration, both to reduce component count and simplify the final design, and that carries with it a ripple effect that continues into process engineering and manufacturing,” continued Dr. Cokgor. “As a result of its broad technology offering, SemiLEDs is in a somewhat unique position to reliably deliver these higher levels of integration, as reflected in our new M63 RGBW. High quality LED manufacturers will continue to differentiate and add value to the industry by driving increasing integration at both the component and subsystem level,” he concluded.