Mitsui and Unity Opto are to invest in Forepi, LED makers in China plan to add numerous MOCVD systems in 2011, Epistar is making a further investment in its China-based JV, and Tyntek is also expanding.
Mitsui and Unity Opto to invest in Forepi
Mitsui & Co., Ltd., a major Japan-based industrial conglomerate, is to become the largest shareholder in Taiwan-based LED wafer and chip maker Formosa Epitaxy Inc (Forepi). Mitsui will invest around NT$2.7 billion (approximately JPY7.6 billion) to acquire 15% of Forepi as part of an upcoming private placement of 90 million shares at a price of NT$36.44 per share.
Founded in 1999, Forepi is the second-largest LED epitaxy and chip manufacturer in Taiwan and has plants in Taoyuan, Taiwan and Yangshou, Jingu province, China. Mitsui says the deal is part of its aim to “create new value by consolidating the resources along the LED supply chain.” As well as having a network of shops selling LCD TVs and monitors, Mitsui has held a 16% stake in AOC International, one of the world’s leading monitor makers.
A Taiwan Economic News article says that, in addition to the Mitsui deal, Unity Opto Corp. will purchase 15.3 million shares in Forepi for an investment of US$18.6 million. Unity is a leading LED packager in Taiwan, and the deal will help to secure a steady source of LED chips for its backlight packages used in various applications, including TVs, computer monitors and tablet PCs. Also, the company has begun introducing LED packages for general lighting.
China LED makers to add MOCVD systems in 2011
China's LED industry is expected to install 700-800 MOCVD systems in 2011 compared with 330 units installed in 2010, according to a report on www.digitimes.com. This trend is likely to enable China's LED industry to catch up with Taiwan in terms of MOCVD production capacity.
The report also suggested that one China-based LED maker has given an order for somewhere between 400 and 500 MOCVD machines to Germany-based Aixtron. If this is true (Aixtron didn’t comment but its share price rose rapidly after the report came out) then delivery lead times will be greatly extended.
The report says that Sanan Optoelectronics is currently the largest LED-chip maker in China. The company apparently had a total of 40 MOCVD machines at the end of 2010 and will expand this to 100 units in 2011. The current second- and third-largest chip makers, Xiamen Changelight and Inspur Huaguang Optoelectronics, are expected to each have around 30 machines by the end of 2011.
Epistar invests further in China JV
Epistar Corp., Taiwan’s largest LED chipmaker, is to invest an additional US$19.5 million in United LED Shan Dong Corp, a joint venture established in mainland China with United Microelectronics Corp. This will push Epistar’s investment in the Chinese joint venture to a total of US$27.5 million, with its stakeholding increasing to 55 percent from 50 percent, according to an article in the Taipei Times.
The same article quoted an analyst company, which is forecasting that Epistar’s sales will grow by 25 percent to 30 percent year-on-year in 2011, after experiencing weakening demand and falling prices in the final quarter of 2010.
Tyntek expands in China and Taiwan
Taiwan-based LED maker Tyntek plans to invest CNY153 million (US$23 million) to set up an LED production joint venture with the Fuzhou government in China, according to an article on the Digitimes website. The first phase of development will focus on LED epitaxy and chip production, and around 30 MOCVD systems could be installed eventually. Production is scheduled to commence at the end of the third quarter at the earliest.
The article also says that Tyntek will install a further 10-15 MOCVD machines at its Taichung, Taiwan facility in the second and third quarters of 2011.
About the Author
Tim Whitaker is the Editor of LEDs Magazine.
LED Lights
LED Lights
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
LED lighting market expected to compete more intensify with its price dropping
The market estimated that LED lighting products' prices would drop by 15-20% each year amid increase competition in the market as vendors reduce prices to gain market share, which even be fall to one-third of current prices.
At first, the Japanese market appeared to price war in 2009. Sources from LED companies indicated that the price competition had extended to China, Europe and the US.
Some light bulb makers reportedly would introduce LED lighting products at end-use price of US$10 in 2011, which would compete for pricing scheduled to enter the LED sector with distributors and retailers well-known, and the price battle would only intensify in the future.
At first, the Japanese market appeared to price war in 2009. Sources from LED companies indicated that the price competition had extended to China, Europe and the US.
Some light bulb makers reportedly would introduce LED lighting products at end-use price of US$10 in 2011, which would compete for pricing scheduled to enter the LED sector with distributors and retailers well-known, and the price battle would only intensify in the future.
Toshiba LED Mini Bulb Exploded Diagram
We have exploded several types of LED lamps (E27, MR16, GU10, Par30) in a series of articles, illustrating some interesting renderings. Now in this post, we will demonstrate some real stuffs – an exploded Toshiba LED mini bulb.
Toshiba LED Mini Bulbs
This is what a 3.4W Toshib LED mini bulb looks like before being exploed.
Toshiba LED Light Bulbs - Lamp Cover
This is the lamp cover of a Toshiba LED bulb. This is a translucent lamp cover, neither transparent nor frosted lamp cover. The LED in the lamp can be seen from outside the lamp through the translucent cover.
Toshiba Mini LED Bulbs - Module LED
Toshiba LED Light Bulbs - Exploded 01
Now, the mini bulb has been exploded. We can see very clearly, a module LED (about 3W) is on the center of a PCB with aluminum plate (for heat dissipating). Judging from the LED’s colour, this is probably a warm white LED bulb. The PCB is quite simple, but we still find two electric wires are connected to something in the lamp body.
Toshiba LED Light Bulbs
Toshiba LED Light Bulbs - Exploded 02
From this photo, the body of the light bulb can be seen right through. And finally, the secret of the two wires has been revealed. The wires are connected to the driver. The driver is basically some electronic components integrated on a PCB. We have explained that in our previous articles that when LEDs work, they usually need some drivers as they can not be driven by AC current directly. However, in fact, this conclusion is only applied to DC LEDs. There is another type of LEDs which is AC-driven LEDs which can be driven by AC current.
Above is how we exploded a Toshiba LED mini bulb.
This is what a 3.4W Toshib LED mini bulb looks like before being exploed.
This is the lamp cover of a Toshiba LED bulb. This is a translucent lamp cover, neither transparent nor frosted lamp cover. The LED in the lamp can be seen from outside the lamp through the translucent cover.
Now, the mini bulb has been exploded. We can see very clearly, a module LED (about 3W) is on the center of a PCB with aluminum plate (for heat dissipating). Judging from the LED’s colour, this is probably a warm white LED bulb. The PCB is quite simple, but we still find two electric wires are connected to something in the lamp body.
Toshiba LED Light Bulbs
From this photo, the body of the light bulb can be seen right through. And finally, the secret of the two wires has been revealed. The wires are connected to the driver. The driver is basically some electronic components integrated on a PCB. We have explained that in our previous articles that when LEDs work, they usually need some drivers as they can not be driven by AC current directly. However, in fact, this conclusion is only applied to DC LEDs. There is another type of LEDs which is AC-driven LEDs which can be driven by AC current.
Above is how we exploded a Toshiba LED mini bulb.
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