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.

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.

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.

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.

The new lighting installation at the university hospital in Poitiers, France supports the treatment of cancer patients in a special room thanks to human centric lighting. A natural environment is being simulated in the room to create a greater feeling of well-being thanks to modern tunable white LED technology and a custom-designed illuminated ceiling. In addition, more than 800 LED luminaires and LED drivers from Tridonic have been installed in the new administrative block at the hospital.

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.

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.

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.

Light + Building 2018, the largest trade fair for lighting and building services technology in Europe, officially begins on March 18. For the next six days, 18-23 March, exhibitors at the show will showcase their state-of-the-art products and technologies, whether they are for lighting, communication, building automation, or automotive applications.

Light + Building opens its doors in Frankfurt am Main from Sunday, 18 March, to Friday, 23 March 2018. Over 2,700 exhibitors from 55 countries are showing their latest products and innovations for the lighting, electrical engineering, home and building automation and safety and security sectors on more than 260,000 square metres spread in25 exhibition halls.

Future Lighting Solutions announces the immediate availability of Optisolis from Nichia, the most advanced Ultra-High Color Rendering white LED the world has ever seen.

A team led by engineers at the University of California San Diego has used data mining and computational tools to discover a new phosphor material for white LEDs that is inexpensive and easy to make.

Seoul Semiconductor announces that its SunLike Series LEDs, which implement light closest to the spectrum of natural sunlight, have been adopted for a series of luminaires designed by FLOS Architectural, a specialty lighting company based in Spain.

LED technology has been widely adopted in lighting because it is highly energy efficient and durable. On the other hand, LED lamps contain a number of delicate semiconductor elements, which are more susceptible to power surge damages than conventional lamps. Especially in countries where power grids are relatively unstable, damages to LED products caused by power surge are more common.

Seoul Semiconductor announces that its SunLike Series LEDs, which implement light closest to the spectrum of natural sunlight, have been adopted for the Spectra luminaires of LED Luks, a specialty lighting company based in Slovenia.

Heliospectra AB (publ), speicalizing in intelligent lighting technology for greenhouses and controlled farming environments, announces a new order from a licensed producer of cannabis in Ontario, Canada. Heliospectra's value-added reseller AcquiFlow secured the market-leading lighting solutions for the business leader in Canada's evolving cannabis landscape. The order value is 524 307 SEK (USD $63,547).

Samsung Electronics announced that it has achieved the industry’s highest light efficacies for its fillet-enhanced chip-scale package (FEC) LED lineup – LM101B, LH181B and LH231B.

LITE-ON Technology today reported February consolidated revenue of NT$13.04 billion, decreased 21% M-o-M and 19% Y/Y, mainly impacted by the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday shutdown. Cumulative sales for January and February totaled NT$29.54 billion.

LEDtronics introduces the latest additions to its highly popular and affordable series of dimmable, high-lumen and high-efficiency LED High Bay Fixtures.

Silvair announces partnerships with Fulham, McWong International, Murata, Danlers, ERP Power and DG Light to bring to the market a wide range of components and products designed for setting up smart lighting infrastructures in commercial spaces.

Silvair, a pioneer in lighting control technology based on Bluetooth mesh, announces its partnership with Sylvania - a full-spectrum provider of professional and architectural lighting solutions. The collaboration will focus on introducing one of the world’s first Bluetooth mesh certified lighting control systems for professional applications.

ON Semiconductor, driving energy efficient innovations, has announced two new QR PSR PWM controllers for LED lighting with Power Factor Control (PFC) function. The dimmable NCL30386 and the non-dimmable NCL30388 provide market-leading options for designers of LED lighting units such as luminaires used in office and industrial building applications.