Flexible LED strips

Widening adoption in outdoor applications spurs China suppliers of flexible LED strips to enhance waterproofing techniques and improve product performance further. Companies are looking to switch fully to silicone tubing, especially in IP67 and IP68-rated releases, for its advantages of better protection and flexibility. At present, makers such as Zhongshan General Photoelectric combine it with adhesive as outlay for the former material is still high. The manufacturer offers IP68-rated units for the lighting, advertising and decoration sectors.

Based on sales, the local outdoor flexible LED strip category has grown at a rate surpassing 20 percent in the past one or two years. Such products are projected to garner a 60 percent share of revenue for the line in the coming year from 50 percent.

To achieve a range of lighting effects and meet advertising and decoration requirements, suppliers are improving LED controller programming. They have so far realized more than 80 kinds, including flashing, glowing, chasing, hopping and changing. Companies use ICs such as HL1606, LPD6803, UCS1903 and HL1606. Red Star has a model whose individual diodes can be controlled to deliver up to 144 patterns. The unit integrates 32 LEDs per meter, each with 18 to 20 lumens luminous flux.

China makers are boosting the release of multicolor flexible LED strips to take advantage of the type’s rising popularity.

Encouraging product initiatives is the government’s inclusion of a special objective for semiconductor lighting development in the 12th Five-Year Plan. It involves the localization of the production of up to 80 percent of LED chips by 2015. The scheme also extends to large MOCVD equipment and key raw materials. The goal is to reduce dependence on foreign technology and help local suppliers sharpen their competitive edge.

Additional impetus comes from the steady advancement of China’s flexible LED strips sector. Sales climbed by 5 to 10 percent and export shipments by 5 percent in the past 12 months. The uptick is expected to persist in the next two years. Companies are eyeing more opportunities in emerging markets such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

There are more than 300 manufacturers of flexible LED strips in China. The majority of the companies also turn out related products, including rigid versions, and high-power and SMD diodes. Based on output, the category has a 20 to 60 percent share.