Taiwan's LED Makers Form Alliance to Tap Streetlight Market

2010/04/02 | By Ken Liu

(From left to right) Director J.S. Su of Bureau of Energy of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Director C.H. Lu of Industrial Development Bureau of MOEA, Executive Vice President H.S. Chu of the Industrial Technology Research Institute, Leotek Electronics Corp. President Angela Huang, Special Assistant To President Amy Chien of Formosa Epitaxy Inc., and Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd. Vice President S.C. Jien together touch a magic ball to mark the start of the LED streetlight alliance.

Viewing bright outlook for the light emitting diode (LED) streetlight market, Taiwan's LED makers, coordinated by the government-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), set up in early January a consortium comprising manufacturers of all related sectors.

Vice Economic Minister J.C. Hwang, citing some market studies, pointed out that around 160-180 million streetlights would be installed worldwide throughout 2010, with LED types accounting for approximately 2.5 million systems valued at US$937 million or so.

Hwang continued that to help manufacturers quickly seize business opportunities, his ministry has instructed ITRI to coordinate the manufacturers to form an alliance to integrate resources. He said the ministry will help Taiwan's LED-lighting industry expand into other applications by beginning with streetlight, which requires the strictest industry standards. Taiwan unveiled the world's first LED streetlight standard in late 2008.

The alliance's chairman, ITRI Executive Vice President H.S. Chu, pointed out that the ITRI will help the alliance, which is mostly composed of manufacturers of LED packages, lighting modules, control systems, lens and thermal-dissipation components, set up a self-sufficient supply chain.

Also, Chu noted that the institute will help arrange dialogues between Taiwan's and mainland China's LED industries on LED streetlight technologies, standards and inspections. Chu continued that the ITRI will also coordinate credible LED-lighting laboratories on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to set up a data bank of LED streetlights approved overseas and across the Taiwan Straits.

The chairman noted that Taiwan's LED streetlight industry has been short of resources integration capability although manufacturers have begun shipping the lights to the U.S., Canada, Europe and Southeast Asia.

Angela Huang, president of LEOTEK Electronics Corp., an alliance member known for LED traffic lights, pointed out that LED lighting is a trendy green-energy technology for its excellent energy-saving performance. She estimated the LED market to begin to heat up this year thanks to ballooning demand for LED backlights and LED lights.

The alliance has nearly 20 members, including Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd., Formosa Epitaxy Inc., and ThermalKing Technology International Co., Unity Opto Technology Co., Ltd., and I-Chiun Precision Industry Co., Ltd. in addition to LEOTEK. (KL)