HK Spring Lighting Fair 2012 Shows Huge Growth, Unlimited Potential

Exhibitors attract buyers with bright designs, diverse functions, and energy conservation

About 6,000 buyers showed up on the first day of the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) 2012, which was held on Apr. 6-9, a record high since the spring show was made independent from its co-location shows four years ago. A total of 15,220 buyers visited the show this year.

Other impressive records chalked up by the show include the presence of 950 exhibitors, a 45% surge from 2011 and a huge increase from the 200 exhibitors who showed up in 2009. Last year the number soared 70%, alerting the organizer, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), to an urgent need for more space. This year the show was held alone at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center (HKCEC), occupying Hall 1 and Hall 3. (The center has five halls in addition to conference rooms.)

For the first time, the spring lighting fair featured a “Hall of Aurora”, a section, seen in the past only at the much bigger autumn edition of the lighting fair, set aside for exhibitors promoting brand names. This spring's section accommodated 93 brand names, including Fulham, Citizen, Everlight, ETi, Viribright, TCL, Ssann Kuen, and Skyworth.

Other first-time pavilions included the “Hall of LED” for energy-saving LED lights and “World of Crystal Chandeliers” for stylish lights. The traditional Decorative Lighting, Green Lighting, LED Lighting and Lighting Accessories, Parts and Components, Commercial Lighting, and Technical and Outdoor Lighting sections were also in evidence.

First-time exhibitors this year came from Thailand and Vietnam, who joined counterparts from mainland China, France, Germany, South Korea, the Netherlands, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United Sates.

Some of this spring's exhibitors highlighted technologies developed around the convergence of IT and telecommunications technologies. For example, the Internet Hub displayed by Capital Prospect Ltd. of Hong Kong allows users to control lamps and other electronic devices anytime, anywhere with apps installed on iPhones, iPads, or other Android devices. Users can even install wireless cameras on the hub to view live images in their homes.

The Emer-Flash Series of pendants developed by I.C. Engineering Ltd., also of Hong Kong, automatically light up when the power goes out. The products have a hanging harness that allows people to use it as a flashlight in case of emergency.

The MAGIT International Co., yet another Hong Kong firm, has integrated the functions of projector and lighting in its LED Image Projection Light, which projects images onto the wall and ceiling when used as a night light or decorative light. The images can be customized.

Some of the participating companies displayed LED products with superb power efficiency. The patented LED technology in a classic lamp from the Nonning Optoelectronics Co.—again, from Hong Kong--cuts energy consumption to 80% that of competing LED lights and only 20% that of incandescent light bulbs.

Numerous Innovative Designs
New designs always catch the eyes of buyers; the 2012 Spring Edition offered plenty of innovative designs, a few of which are highlighted below:

The Goodwell International (Hong Kong) Co.'s LED floating inductive lamp featured a light bulb that floats on the lamp base using electromagnetic levitation technology and is powered using induction technology.

A crystal chandelier displayed by the House & Home Décor Co. of mainland China featured chains of colorful crystals that exuded elegance. The lamp came with a fabric lampshade that makes the glaring light soft and cozy.

A decorative solar LED light from Dowin (HK) Co. was designed like a transparent dragonfly resting on a lotus leaf, on which a solar panel was embedded.

Chau Leong Enterprise (Group) Ltd. of Hong Kong presented an LED wall lamp housed in a well-ventilated aluminum case covered by a PC shield, making it an ideal product for outdoor corridors and exterior walls. The lamp boasts a maximum lifespan of 40,000 hours.

Outfitted with Cree LEDs, the light bulb exhibited by Micon Electronic (HK) Ltd. offered uniform light with low lumen decay and high intensity. The bulb was compliant with various safety standards.

Everlight Technology Co., Ltd of mainland China's LED reflector is equipped with housing made out of impact-proof and molded metal. The lamp's light stays soft in spite regardless of increased intensity and beam angle dispersion.

Newtech LED Lighting Ltd.'s LED mobile cart light featured a strong metallic cart body supported by specially designed leg stands. Its hydraulic central pole could extend up to 4.5 meters in height and its LED light head could be rotated 360 degrees, both vertically and horizontally.

Just eight millimeters thick and weighing only 0.3 kilograms, Sui Rich LED Lighting's flexible LED module, dubbed MagicFlex, featured a plastic quality allowing it to be mounted on irregular metal surfaces.

SINO International Trading e.K. of Germany showed off a replaceable LED bulb featuring strong light intensity together with low energy consumption, making it an ideal replacement for incandescent bulbs.

A wall lamp from the Scoowa (Kristall) Co. came with an elegant candle stand for candle bulbs, and was decorated with bling-bling crystals, making it a superb decorative light for households and commercial sites.

A plastic-and-metal branch lamp displayed by Shining Blick Enterprises Co. of Taiwan evidenced an exquisite design, with the light coming through lovely blossom-shaped shades.

Charmview Lighting Ltd.'s pendant lamp featured an elegant wrought-iron frame in black and a bowl-shaped glass shade made with hand blown methodology.

Jeevan Industries (HK) Ltd. showed a ceiling lamp with an antique look, featuring easy assembling and maintenance. Its light source created a brilliant illumination effect.

C.G.E(HK) Co.'s intelligent LED lamp had a built-in motion sensor to turn up the light when someone was near and dim it when there was no one around. This function reduces energy consumption by 50-60% and extends the life of the light.

The CALLA LED floor lamp displayed by the Darfon Lighting Corp. of Taiwan was notable for an organic curved design to perfectly match any modern interior design and a swivel mechanism allowing the user to change the lamp's appearance to suit decor or mood.

The show also offered an insight into lighting industry trends. First, most of the 732 mainland Chinese exhibitors there (making up the largest exhibitor group at the show) were LED lighting manufacturers that were offshoots from trading companies or electronics manufacturers. “The Chinese government's subsidies for LED lighting consumption has inspired these companies to jump into LED for a slice in the huge market, which is estimated at around RMB500 billion [US$79 billion at US$:RMB6.3], including the business opportunities created by the 12th Five Year Plan,” observed Zhao Xiaotsung, an industry researcher with the China Association of Lighting Industry.

Zhao pointed out that although electrodeless fluorescent lamps emerged as popular energy-saving lights in China around five years ago, the lack of determined government support has sidelined them. “Government support is the right way to go for an industry,” Zhao commented. “Now, though, whether the mainland's LED manufacturers can survive the keen competition will depend on their own abilities.”

TCL Ventures Into LED Lighting
The TCL Corp. and the Skyworth Group, both among the mainland's top five LCD TV makers, are typical cases of electronics manufacturers branching out into LED lighting. Both companies make the most of their expertise in assembling LED TV backlights to manufacture LED lighting.

“TCL is China's first household appliance maker to enter the LED lighting sector,” said Raymond Choi, senior manager of the company's export department. “Its eco-friendly features drew us in.” The group jumped into LED lighting around three years ago.

“The huge potential of the LED lighting market is the reason behind Skyworth's entry into this sector,” reported Jason Cheung, Skyworth's marketing manager. “Our primary advantage in this sector is our know-how in backlights and LED drivers for LCD TVs.” Skyworth entered the LED lighting industry in 2010.

The bright future of LED is also attracting electronics manufacturers from other countries into the industry. For example, Digital Graphics Inc. (DGI) of South Korea, a first-time exhibitor at the spring lighting show, displayed a unique LED lighting technology that makes the most of its inkjet printer technology. “We print silver circuits on PET-based flexible boards with our inkjet technology,” explained Shawn Seo, team manager of DGI's LED business division, “and mount LEDs on the board to make lighting modules. This is an innovative alternative to the tired old CCL [copper clad laminate] PCB.” DGI is among South Korea's top three printer makers and entered the LED lighting sector last year, concentrating on flexible modules for light box applications.

Far more than just a lighting fair, the spring event was an information platform as well. At forums held on the sidelines of the show, lighting designers and manufacturers made trend forecasts and quality-inspection experts told attendees about the latest international regulations and technological developments.

At a “Symposium on Lighting – Enabling Technologies for LED Lighting,” panelists pointed out that while LED lighting is capturing a growing share of the general lighting market, there are still critical challenges to be addressed before LED can completely replace traditional general lighting.

Buyer Forums
At Buyer Forums, buyers from the Arab United Emirates pointed out that the availability of LED lights was increasing in major Middle Eastern economies and that quality has been the top concern there. Russian buyers said that the rising awareness of the CO2 emissions issue had inspired more Russian consumers to use LED lamps—despite the fact that they are also price conscious.

Jaime Murra, general director of Mexico's Maxilux and a third-time visitor to the show, was looking for emergency lighting, solar streetlights, and power supplies (his company supplies lighting to industries such as mining and automobile manufacturing). “It's a 20-hour flight from Mexico,” he noted, “but every time I come here I find what I am looking for. So it's cost effective.” He expected to take time after the show to visit factories and check out potential suppliers whom he met at the show.

CIT International s.r.o. of the Czech Republic has been distributing lighting for about 20 years and has an annual turnover of US$5 million annually. Its managing director, George Kreysa, a first-time visitor, pointed out the Czech lighting market is growing but is very competitive. “We are mainly concerned with indoor lighting,” he said, “but I'm starting to look at street lighting, too, to spread out the pressure of competition.”

Colin Holliday was on his fourth visit to the show. The company that he owns and manages in Australia, Greenlight, supplies LED lighting solutions to hotels, restaurants, and schools, and provides architectural and landscape lighting. Holliday pointed out that spring is a convenient time for him to travel, as it is the quietest time for the Australian market. “Also,” he said, “I prefer to speak face-to-face with suppliers so they can fully understand the specifications and accreditation requirements for lighting in the Australian market.”

CEO Mikhail Aseykin of the Russian company ECO Svet LLC, a distributor of major Russian lighting brands including two of its own, reported that his company imports six to eight containers of lighting products a month from mainland China, including ballasts, components, street lighting, fluorescent lamps, and LED lighting. “We have recently started an LED-lighting business,” he noted, “and we expect it to grow by 50% next year.”

Vadim Senechkin, chief executive of Compact-Optima Ltd., also of Russia, came to the spring show for the first time this year mainly to collect information on suppliers of LED and energy-saving lighting for professional applications such as offices, factories, and street lighting. “The LED market in Russia is just taking its first steps,” he commented, “but energy-saving lighting is already widespread.”

K. Krishna Kumar, managing director of Zoomlux Lighting LLC, said that his UAE company had recently added LED lamps to its product line, which was mostly composed of fluorescent luminaries. “We supply LED lighting products for large construction projects in the Gulf countries,” he explained. “We usually buy a complete range of LED lighting products from China and then market them under our own brand. I come here to source good LED manufacturers.”