Taiwan-based LED epitaxial wafer and chipmaker Lextar Electronics, a subsidiary of AU Optronics AUO has landed OEM orders for LED lighting products from Europe-based vendors such as Royal Philips Electronics and Osram, according to market sources.
Lextar expects LED lighting products to account for 20% of its monthly revenues at the end of 2010, up from the current level of less than 10%, said company president David Su.
Current prices for LED lighting products remain high, but adoption in the commercial lighting market will grow fast because of energy savings and long product life, Lextar noted. LED lighting products are expected to be more popular in countries with higher electricity rates, such as European countries and Japan, Lextar added.
Lextar cited research analysts' data saying that LED light bulbs accounted for 16% of the overall light bulb market in Japan in May in terms of unit shipments, and over 60% in terms of revenues.
Lextar has recently developed a 4.5 watt LED light bulb specifically for the Japan market, the company said, adding that the 4.5 watt LED light bulb has a life of 50,000 hours and can save over 80% of energy compared to incandescent light bulbs.
Lextar said that the company will focus on LED lighting OEM business and currently has no plan to establish its own brand for LEDs.
