The centre will allow visitors to see lighting solutions in key applications areas
GE Lighting's president and CEO (EMEA) Phil Marshall has said he anticipates a 150 per cent growth in LED sales but that the company will adopt a cautious approach to acquisitions.
Speaking at the launch of the company's European Lighting Experience Centre in Hungary, Marshall said GE had taken a strategic decision not to invest large amounts of money in takeovers when there was still so much uncertainty in the LED market.
''I don't think you have to be a chip manufacturer to be successful in the LED market. We've been investing on a smaller and more organic scale to build up our system capability and the acquisition of Lightech was a prime example of that,'' he said.
He went on to say that the company would continue to develop solutions in 'old' green technology in parallel with continued development in LEDs: ''We are committing 80 to 90 percent of our R&D spend to LED solutions but if the customer cannot adopt LED, then we have to have other options, including fluorescent and metal halide,'' he said.
At the same event, Diederik de Stoppelaar, director of the company's Luminaire Solutions division, said he was excited rather than threatened by the entrance of far eastern chip makers into the market. ''I'm excited that they see the lighting industry as a big opportunity because that means it's a big opportunity for the more established players as well. I'd rather be in our position, with 130 years of experience than theirs.''
Both speakers said the opening of the European Lighting Experience Centre would help to showcase the company's new capabilities and demonstrate the company's ongoing commitment to specifiers.
The centre will offer visitors the chance to explore lighting in key application areas, including retail, office environments, and city lighting. To take a virtual tour, click on the video link below:
