The Warrington Borough Council and Liverpool City in UK have announced plans of upgrading current streetlights to LEDs respectively, according to various UK media reports.

In the new generation of the CLS-Class, Mercedes-Benz is using the new technology of MULTIBEAM LED headlamps for the first time. High-resolution precision LED modules, each with 24 individually controlled high-performance LEDs, automatically illuminate the road with a hitherto unsurpassed, precision-controlled distribution of exceptionally bright light – without dazzling other road users. A camera positioned behind the windscreen delivers the information with which four control units the ideal light pattern 100 times per second. The anticipatory camera-based active light function on bends and the new navigation-based light function for roundabouts are also unique. 

Prestigious American Chip-on-Board (COB) manufacturer Bridgelux mistly displayed COB product series under the spotlight at Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) 2014, that ran from June 9-12 in Guangzhou, China.

Taiwanese sapphire manufacturers Rigidtech Microelectronics (Rigidtech) and Aceplux Optotech have seen revenue more than double during May and June 2014, according to a CNYes.com report. The two companies benefited from soaring LED lighting demands that have led to rising Patterned Sapphire Substrate (PSS) revenue.

To achieve carbon emission reduction goals, China will be turning its focus to strengthening energy efficient and low carbon industries financial support and tax incentives, according to a recent report by Xinhua.com.

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced the competitive selection of nine projects for solid-state lighting (SSL), in response to the SSL R&D funding opportunity announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0000973. The one- to two-year projects will focus on the areas of Core Technology Research, which involves the application of fundamental scientific concepts to SSL technology; and Product Development, which involves using the knowledge gained from basic or applied research to develop or improve commercially viable SSL materials, devices, or systems. 

At the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) 2014 this week, smart lighting solutions takes the show grounds again. Other interesting trends in outdoor, retail and commercial lighting can also be seen at the show as manufacturers aim to add value to lighting products. Many reports are coming out of China this week regarding to industry subsidies as the country plans to channel more financial resources into the area to meet carbon emission reduction targets. Apple’s sapphire applications also catch headlines this week, as GTAT appears to scale up sapphire production, and iWatch’s adoption of sapphire watch covers goes official. For more info please see below:

The advent of solid state lighting has launched the lighting industry into the developmental fast lane. As solid state lighting technology evolves and advances, many manufacturers are looking towards intellectualizing lighting systems to meet increasing market demands and secure a sustainable revenue model. 

What can manufacturers do when phosphor powder prices plunge? Should these manufacturers follow others lead and slash prices to keep market shares, or should they stand on the sidelines as spectators? How can manufacturers change their market strategies?

GT Advanced Technology might be adding more sapphire furnaces at Arizona plant for Apple, according to UBS Analyst Steven Chin.

When you look at today’s smartphones, or phablets and you see that the screens are getting bigger and bigger, do you realize that the display is what is taking up most of the power in the system?  

Apple received a patent on Thursday for an advanced iPad cover that contains both illumination and communication elements that will light up to alert users of notifications, according to AppleInsider. 

Bridgelux announced a major expansion of its China operations, significantly increasing its investment and capabilities in China. To better serve its rapidly growing customer base in China, Bridgelux has opened a major R&D center in Xiamen dedicated to supporting the development and manufacture of new solid state lighting products, including extensions to its best in class V Series Chip-on-Board (COB) product line.  In addition, Bridgelux will be opening an applications lab in Shanghai’s Hongqiao district to assist its China customers with the design and enhancement of lamps and fixtures that integrate Bridgelux’s highly regarded LED light source products.

This weekend Royal Philips, the global leader in lighting, kicked off a new initiative with KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) - a series of six football clinics held at Philips Community Light Centers across Brazil during this summer’s football tournament.

Sierra Wireless announced that Philips CityTouch has selected Sierra Wireless AirPrime® embedded wireless modules to provide connectivity for the new CityTouch LightWave remote lighting management system.

Although significant consolidation has already occurred across the LED value chain, Memoori Research remains of the opinion that further consolidation is required for the market to mature into a stable state. Achieving economies of scale, cost reductions, sustainable market share and access to innovative IP to meet rising output requirements, will all remain as drivers. This will further increase the likelihood of deal activity to 2018.

This New LIA Laboratories Unmetered Supply Measurement Certification Scheme provides an assurance of the validity of the power data measured by manufacturers when describing the performance of their lighting products for use in unmetered supply (UMS) applications.

Flexible displays developed by ITRI will be entering mass production within the next two years, a Central News Agency (CNA) report cited Janglin Chen, Vice President of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) in Taiwan saying.

Despite China’s blooming LED industry, many LED manufacturers will be eliminated from the market, according to a report by Yicai.com.

Semiconductor Energy Laboratory (SEL), Advanced Film Device (AFD) and Sharp displayed a prototype 13.3-inch 8K (7,680 x 4,320-pixel) OLED display panel at SID 2014 in U.S., according to a report by Nikkei Technology.

State-owned power company Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) issued a notice asking consumers in Sri Lanka to choose LED bulbs and Compound Fluorescent Lamps wisely, according to a Sri Lanka Broadcast report.

ElectroniCast Consultants, a leading market & technology forecast consultancy, announced their market forecast of the worldwide consumption of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) in General Lighting applications. 

The Chinese LED industry restructure is only starting as product prices fall dramatically, a Nandu.com report cited Elec-Tech International (ETI) Chairman Donglei Wang saying at the recent 2014 Guangzhou International Lighting Show.

With only one day left, the Guangzhou International Lighting Exhibition (GILE) 2014 is still going strong with thousands of visitors pouring into the show grounds to view and explore the booths spread out among the two halls.

Everlight pays Nichia a total of US $100,000 as a sanction ordered by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan for its violations of a previous order. The litigation is captioned Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd. and Emcore Corp. v. Nichia Corp. and Nichia America Corp., Case No. 4:12-cv-11758 GAD-MKM (E.D. Mich.). Trial in this case is scheduled for October 2014.

LG Display is in talks with Panasonic to supply big-screen OLED TV panels as the Japanese company lower production costs, according to a Bloomberg report.

Sensity Systems, the pioneer of Light Sensory Networks (LSN), announced that the company has formed a Strategic Advisory Board to help navigate the global implementation of Light Sensory Networks (LSN) and has named the Honorable Richard A. (Dick) Gephardt, the Honorable Tom Ridge, Marcia L. Hale and Heather Zichal as its members. With their vast experience and expertise in energy efficiency, government affairs and homeland security, these nationally recognized leaders will advise Sensity and guide business and public policy related to the build out of Light Sensory Networks.

EarthTronics announced that its new line of EarthBulb Plus enhanced color LED light products is available for use wherever high color quality is essential. The EarthBulb Plus provides a very high color rendering index of greater than 92 and a balance of the important R9 visible red within the full lighting spectrum. The result is naturally appearing colors and skin tones. Visual acuity and eye comfort is also a benefit of the improved color quality of the EarthBulb Plus product line.

This China-LED. Org report gives a comprehensive overview of policy developments in China and the impact these subsidies are having on the industry as a whole. The subsidies drive industry developments, but oversupply is still a big problem. Similar to earlier Chinese reports LEDinside have translated, this one also highlights lack of industry standards hinders industry development.

Taiwanese LED manufacturer Lextar announced revenue for May 2014 was up 7.3 percent compared to the previous month to NT $1.26 billion (US $ 40 million). However, on a Year-on-Year basis, the company revenue slid 4.3 percent.