Philips has launched a new series of LED lighting solutions for consumers and professional lighting designers at a major lighting and building show in Frankfurt, Germany.

The "Light + Building Biennale" is one of Europe's biggest such events, showcasing new products and innovations in lighting. This year many exhibitors displayed innovations in light-emitting diode (LED) technology, which is expected to replace the conventional bulb.

"We conservatively expect 50-per-cent LED penetration in the market by as early as 2015, and 75 per cent by the end of this decade," said Philips Lighting's chief executive Rudy Provoost.

The technology has seen serious development by the lighting industry over the past few years. Its advantage is not only in saving energy by releasing less heat, but it also lasts longer and can be blended to people's lifestyles.

Provoost said that by 2050, about 75 per cent |of the world's population would live in cities, |so the quality of home and city environments |was increasingly important. Philips has brought LED technology into both home and outdoor lighting products, allowing effective use of its capabilities.

By using a simple remote control in LivingAmbiance product lines, a room's lighting can be adjusted to match any mood or occasion. Many integrated lighting units, wirelessly using thousands of colours and lamps, can generate any desired type of ambient lighting.

 

LED technology in outdoor lighting helps cities improve road and pedestrian safety, reduces night-time light disturbance and achieves significant energy savings.

Philips also introduced a dimmable 12-watt LED lamp as a 60-watt replacement. It will be available by the end of this year.

The new 60-watt equivalent LED can save up to 80 per cent of the energy used by older technologies and has a 25,000-hour life time.

 

Philips Lighting holds 36 per cent of the lighting market in Europe. The company's sales in Asia, including China and the Asia-Pacific region, generated 16 per cent of its global revenue of 6.6 billion euros (Bt286 billion) last year.

Philips invests 3 to 4 per cent of sales value in research and development. It says LED lighting is still expensive compared to conventional lighting because the technology is still in the development process.

However, instead of investing in advertising to make people aware of the technology, Philips chooses to focus on store design that helps consumers to navigate through different technologies according to their needs.

In Thailand, many Philips lighting displays in stores such as Home Works and Homepro have been designed to show the benefits of the technology while allowing consumers to choose according to needs and budget.