Osram AG Has Announced It Will Build New LED Chip and Assembly Plants in China

Osram AG has announced it will build new LED chip and assembly plants in China, while Relume Technologies has moved into a larger facility in Oxford, Michigan.

Osram to expand China operations

Osram AG has signed a contract with the Wuxi New District Administrative Committee to build a new assembly plant in the Chinese province of Jiangsu. Osram has additionally decided to build a new LED chip manufacturing plant in Wuxi, China to augment its LED chip production facilities in Regensburg, Germany and Penang, China. Both new facilities will begin production in late 2013. The Wuxi plant could employ up to 1600 people at full capacity.

"The new assembly plant will improve our access to the world`s largest single market in the lighting industry," said Aldo Kamper, CEO of the Osram Opto Semiconductors business unit. "As one of the world's most renowned LED lighting corporations, Osram`s new plant in Wuxi will definitely enhance the development of the LED industry in both Wuxi Municipality and Jiangsu Province," said Lixin Huang, Member of the Standing Committee of Jiangsu Provincial CPC Committee and Secretary of Wuxi Municipal CPC Committee in China.
The new backend facility at Wuxi near Shanghai will install LED chips manufactured in the frontend plants at Regensburg and Penang in their housings (pictured). The new assembly plant in Wuxi will also augment the Penang plant by manufacturing general, automotive and industrial lighting products for key segments of the Chinese market. The plant's added back-end LED capacity will enable the company to capitalize on China`s fast-growing market and support the two plants in Germany and Malaysia.

In fiscal year 2011, Osram generated approximately one fifty of the Group's revenue in the Asia-Pacific region, where it employs over 16,000 people. Nearly half of that workforce is employed in China.

Relume moves to larger facility in Michigan to expand operations

Relume Technologies, a Michigan-based manufacturer of LED products and smart-grid control systems for outdoor-lighting applications, is moving to a larger facility in Oxford, Michigan, to allow expansion of its manufacturing and customer service capabilities.

"Current manufacturing needs and future business forecasts require a larger and more up-to-date facility. It's great news for our company and community, and we thank our employees and customers for supporting us during this time of rapid growth," said Crawford Lipsey, CEO of Relume Technologies.

Relume's new facility will feature lean manufacturing practices and tools to reduce cost, increase productivity and improve quality throughout the operation.

"The new facility's larger and improved layout enables better organized workstations, a more efficient flow of materials and the ability to increase capacity as the company grows," said Jason Bailey, manufacturing manager and lean principles expert at Relume.