GPE Ardenghi srl introduces the new Mod. GPE/24-LED automatic screen printer enabled by UV LED curing technology. The new machine is used for screen printing on pens, barrels and other small round articles. LED (light emitting diode) technology offers maximum UV output with significantly less energy consumption, along with cooler operating temperatures that allow for printing on heat sensitive substrates. 

INSTEON, creators of the world’s best-selling home automation and control technology, today introduced four new LED light bulbs – created specifically for the European market – to its product line. INSTEON’s modular connected home system, which consists of nearly 200 products, now enables European-based smart home enthusiasts to add energy-conscious lighting to their home and office setups.

Soraa, the world leader in GaN on GaN™ LED technology, announced today that one of its founders, Dr. Shuji Nakamura, has been awarded the 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics. Recognizing that Nakamura’s invention, the blue light emitting diode (LED), represents a critical advancement in LED lighting, the Nobel committee explained the innovation “has enabled bright and energy-saving white light sources.”

U.S. sapphire furnace and sapphire manufacturer GTAT, the primary sapphire supplier to Apple, filed for bankruptcy on October 6. As of September 29, GTAT reported having US $85 million in cash. Under the $578 million multi-year agreement GTAT and Apple signed last November, GTAT must supply a certain volume of sapphire ingots to Apple while Apple was to pay GTAT in four installments with the final $139 million payment scheduled for the end of October. But low sapphire yield rates have made Apple withhold the last payment. Additionally, GTAT lost an American Arbitration Association (AAA) lawsuit against Taiwanese sapphire manufacturer Tera Xtal Technology in August. AAA ruled GTAT should return payment totaling $ 24 million for faulty sapphire crystal growth furnaces, which greatly strained the firm’s finances.

This year’s Nobel Laureates are rewarded for having invented a new energy-efficient and environment-friendly light source – the blue light-emitting diode (LED). In the spirit of Alfred Nobel the Prize rewards an invention of greatest benefit to mankind; using blue LEDs, white light can be created in a new way. With the advent of LED lamps we now have more long-lasting and more efficient alternatives to older light sources.

"This is the 40th patent granted in 2014,” said CEO Ed Bednarcik. “Our ability to spectrally tune light to deliver proven biological and physiological effect is a game changer that will have dramatic, positive impact on all living things. Our team of lighting engineers is continually finding ways to improve health and wellbeing by innovating and redefining how we use light. It is a huge competitive advantage for us.”

Shareholder Rights Law Firm Johnson & Weaver, LLP is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws by GT Advanced Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: GTAT) and certain of its officers. GT Advanced Technologies Inc., a technology company, provides materials and equipment for the solar, light emitting diode (LED) and electronics industries worldwide.

Soraa, the world leader in GaN on GaN™ LED technology, launched today a complete new line of high performance MR16 LED lamps powered by the world’s most efficient LED—the company’s third generation GaN on GaN™ LED. Featuring the company’s signature elements of full visible spectrum light, Soraa’s new MR16 LED lamps feature a 30% improvement in efficiency, creating a no-compromise lighting solution for restaurants, retail, high-end residential, and office environments where superior light quality and smooth dimming are essential.

Sapphire manufacturer GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT) bankruptcy protection announcement sent shockwaves throughout Wall Street on October 6, 2014. Investors and financial institutes were shocked, no one expected the seemingly promising Apple sapphire supplier to declare insolvency.

GT Advanced Technologies (GTAT), announced that it had, together with certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, GT), commenced voluntary cases under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Hampshire. GT expects the court will authorize the company to continue to conduct business as usual while it devotes renewed efforts to resolve its current issues and develops a reorganization plan.

OLED lighting’s short lifetime and high retail prices has been a major obstacle for the luminaires to acquire more market share, but new developments in Japan might be changing this, according to a MoneyDJ report.

Benefiting from Apple iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus sales, Taiwanese sapphire manufacturer Tera Xtal’s revenue for September 2014 increased 38 percent compared to August. The company set a new monthly record last month, with order visibility extending well into late 2014.

Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Indian state of Kerala, is making little progress in converting the city’s 84,000 streetlights to LEDs, according to a report by The Hindu.

Concerned residents in New Orleans East, Louisiana, U.S. reported new LED streetlights are leaving more unlit areas than conventional streetlights, according to a WDSU New Orleans report.

B/E Aerospace new Emteq unit Diehl Aerospace and other aircraft cabin lighting might be getting LED lighting upgrades from Panasonic in the near future, according to a report by Runway Girl Network.

Cree a market leader in LED lighting, announced preliminary estimates of financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2014. Revenue for the quarter is expected to be approximately US $428 million, with earnings expected below the company’s previously announced target range of $0.25 to $0.30 per diluted share on a GAAP basis. These preliminary financial results are subject to completion of the company’s customary quarterly closing and review procedures.

Molecular Glasses, a division of Molaire Consulting LLC has filed for patent protection for its new class of organic semiconductor materials for OLED and other organic electronic applications.

Barbara Horton’s infectious enthusiasm for lighting design was apparent as we sat down for a candid discussion about her experiences throughout her career. Over the last 30+ years Barbara has compiled a portfolio of notable projects and is known for her expertise in designing urban lighting for parks, streetscapes and monuments. Combining her passion for lighting with her inquisitive nature and visionary perspective, she uses a pragmatic approach to develop unique solutions for each project she takes on. As the President/CEO of Horton Lees Brogden Lighting Design in New York City, as well as the current President of the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD), Barbara is focused on giving back and improving the industry for future generations of lighting designers.

Advantek announced they have acquired all the assets of Tempo Electronics and the Surftape® product line. Effective immediately Advantek will be offering Surftape® through its extensive global sales organization.

Building on its line of flexible outdoor lighting solutions, MaxLite announces a new family of adjustable, installation-friendly LED Wall Packs and the launch of LED Bullet Flood Lights.

The Green Trade Project Office under Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs is set to stage its fourth exhibition event for the 2014 Green Light campaign at the CEATEC JAPAN exhibition, scheduled to be held on October 07-11 at the Makuhari Messe exhibition complex.

Wrapping up this week’s top news, Samsung might be closing down its LED luminaire business soon, according to a Yonhap report. A bankrupt LED manufacturer’s suicide once again highlights bad financial practices in China’s LED industry that are hurting SMEs. Philips focus onto health applications becomes more evident with the launch of a wearable blue LED light therapy device to treat skin disease. LEDinside’s Senior Analyst Figo Wang gives an in-depth six point analysis on Philips recent business restructure. For more please see below:

The ALTLED 46W panel light is a sleek panel light which emits beautifully distributed light without glare. The product is equipped with premium aluminum thermal management which quickly dissipates unneeded heat generated from the chipset. The product adopts side-lighting type backlight module as opposed to the conventional direct-lighting type backlight module, which may be brighter but a lot thicker and provides uneven area light source, creating unwanted dark spots.       Side-lighting type backlight module has the advantag...

The iPhone 6 might not come with sapphire glass cover, but the Apple Watch will, according to MyDrivers.com. Just how much is this tiny piece of glass worth?

Philips announced on Sept. 23, 2014, it would separate its health care and lighting businesseses into a twonew companies, each ofy which would continue to leverage the Philips brand.

Unable to pay back creditors, a bankrupt decorative luminaire manufacturer from Henglan Town in Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province, China chose to end his life by jumping off a building. Videos of the manufacturer leaping to his death have been widely circulated on the Internet. Rumors surfaced that the company declared insolvency after receiving a bad check for several hundred thousand Chinese Yuan. The information has not been confirmed, though.

Korean electronics conglomerate Samsung Electronics intends to close down its LED luminaire business, according to a report by Korean media Yonhap Infomax.

Effective October 1, 2014 Jan-Peter Schwartz will assume responsibility as Head of worldwide External and Internal Communications and as Chief Sustainability Officer at Osram. In this function he will report to Wolfgang Dehen, Chief Executive Officer of Osram.

With the rise of global environmental awareness, incandescent bulb is banned in various countries successively which drives traditional lighting manufacturers to transform into LED lighting. Aiming for this opportunity, the Taiwanese LED packaging manufacturer, Edison Opto, branches out into filament market and releases 0.8W LED filament. Used in 4W bulb, the LED bulb can replace 40W incandescent bulb, bringing the advantages (energy saving and high efficiency) of LED into full play. Edison Opto can assist traditional incandescent bulb manufacturer in entering LED lighting market.

The Netherlands, LUXeXceL Group; Worlds only additive manufacturer of optical components, today announces both the launch of a new additive manufacturing platform that delivers high speed and precision as well as the introduction of a new clear material “LUX-Opticlear”, allowing high quality optics manufacturing up to 20mm in height.