Top 3 Taiwanese LED Makers Highlight Illumination Applications

Taipei, June 18, 2008 (CENS)--Taiwan's top three LED packagers-Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd. and Lite-On Technology Corp., Kingbright Electronics Co., Ltd.-highlighted high-power products for general-illumination applications at an optoelectronics show held last week in Taipei.

Industry watchers pointed out that the three LED packagers focused on LEDs for backlight modules last year although it also demonstrated LED streetlights and LED floodlights as minor products.

This year, Lite-On exhibited high-power LEDs and LEDs for light-bar application, which is meant to replace fluorescent lamp. Also, it demonstrated a 100-watt streetlight embedded with 84 of its high-power LEDs. The company's executives pointed out their company has begun shipping high-power packaged LEDs to two to three European and American buyers, who they said build the diodes into streetlights.

Lite-On also exhibited a LED backlight module using its unique "local dimming" technology, which delivers better contrast and color-rendering qualities as well as consumes less power. The backlight module is developed for 46-inch LCD TVs. The company's executives noted that LCD TV makers would begin to design LED modules into their products next year and forecast blue chips coated with red and green phosphor powder to be the mainstream formula for the backlight modules.

Everlight particularly stressed efficacy improvement of the diodes this year, suggesting the company has shifted emphasis to general illumination purpose from backlight and auxiliary illumination purposes in the past.

Everlight also demonstrated a 14-watt T5 light bar installed with 24 high-power LEDs, an LED streetlight and LED MR16 lamps. LED lamps for planting were the company's another daring product at this show.

Both Everlight and Lite-On are publicly held companies.

The privately-run Kingbright is Taiwan's No.3 LED packager, yielding revenue of around US$200 million throughout last year. The company is estimated to generate revenue of around NT$600 million (US$20 million at US$1:NT$30) a month this year. The company has convinced Toyota to build its LEDs into its dashboards, making it the only Taiwanese LED makers to sell LEDs to the Japanese carmaker.

Kingbright displayed 10-watt LEDs at this show, meant to replace 40-watt incandescent lamps. In addition, LED streetlights powered by solar energy were also exhibited at the company's booth.