ElectroPulse
ELECTROPULSE NEWSLETTER #16, APR/MAY 2009
Light Based Technologies and the Solid State Lighting Industry
Recently, I had a conversation with four graduate students who are conducting a marketing project for me. Their goal: to create an initiative for a profitable Wellness Centre that will target First Nations customers. The needs assessment and positioning was well understood: With a clear understanding of the needs of the target market, create a message that marries your offerings with your target’s needs. But they were stumped on the Objectives portion: “Isnt our objective just to make more money?” This made me smile, as I explained that they should first focus on helping the First Nations community, and from there, the incremental profit will come naturally.
This brings me to Light Based Technologies, a Burnaby Technology company with a clear goal for profit as well as the betterment of our lives.
Light Based Technologies
Light-Based Technologies sells control technologies to the Solid State Lighting Industry (SSL). The entire SSL market currently generates $4B in revenue annually; however, this is expected to grow to $60B by the end of the next decade. This represents average annual growth of 25%.
Stephen Wilson at Light Based Technologies explains that their products will reduce costs and by reducing the cost of entry for the technology, LBT will hasten the progression from incandescent bulbs: “With potential to deliver savings of 90% of energy over incandescent, SSL lamps are the best solution ever proposed. They compare very favourably with Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) as they contain no mercury, require no special disposal, are fully recyclable, last 5 times longer and are twice as energy efficient as their fluorescent counterparts.”
The latest generation of LEDs emit enough light to replace traditional incandescent applications, from area lights in parking garages to spot lights in homes.
Light Based Technologies was responsible for designing the circuitry controlling the current and light output of these lamps. Working with this project has allowed them to gather useful insight into the challenges faced by all their customers and will also provide a fixture ready to receive their next generation Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) specifically designed to control the quality of white light from general lighting fixtures. This chip will be available in late summer and will mark a huge step forward in their ongoing development of linear control technologies for SSL.
LBT is proud to be part of the strong Lower Mainland SSL community
Light Based Technologies voiced concern that our local technology companies felt LED research and development would dwindle in light of the recent economic downturn. Far from dwindling, from Lightpower and LEDLogic building end to end solutions, to MP Lighting integrating LEDs into their fixture designs, these BC companies are working to ensure they make their mark on the world stage.