LG Innotek strengthens marketing for LED lighting

By Kim Yoo-chul

LG Innotek, LG Group's component-making affiliate, is strengthening its efforts to carve out a position in the fast-growing market for light-emitting diode (LED) lighting in North America.

The advancement in technology has been allowing companies to produce brighter and more power-efficient LED bulbs and other products at lower costs.

Company officials claim the market for LED lighting is on the verge of exploding as it moves away from the so-called "dark tunnel" period thanks to maturing technology and increased backing by governments around the world for power-efficient products and systems.

LG Innotek is featuring a flat-screen lighting module dubbed "ModulA 1D" at the LightFair trade show in Philadelphia, which kicked off Wednesday (local time).

The company said that the device, just 8 millimeters thick, comes with advanced LED backlight unit technology.

It also unveiled AngulA which is claimed to be the first "indirect" type LED light engine that promises better efficiency.

"We concluded from the show that brighter LED bulbs are going to go on sale from this year with support from governments. LG Innotek is big in pushing for LED lighting applications," said spokesman Jung Jae-wook.

North America accounts for 30 percent of the global demand for LED bulbs, according to LG Innotek. Jung said the company will produce more applications targeting business-to-business sectors.

Cost still remains a barrier for LED lighting to hit the mainstream, although companies have been reporting improvement in this area lately.

An LED bulb could be made up of a dozen light-emitting diodes, or small semiconductor chips, costing about $1 each.