Henkel Adhesive Technologies, a solution provider for adhesives, sealants and functional coatings, has unveiled its “Lighting in 2025” report, with up-to-the-minute research on current and future trends in the lighting industry. One key finding of the report is that the Asia-Pacific region is poised to be a key driver of growth in the global industry. With 2015 designated as the International Year of Light and Light-based Technologies by the United Nations, Henkel’s comprehensive and incisive research drew on the expertise of leading academics and over 50 companies working in related industries and value chains. It provides a comprehensive industry outlook and market insights.
Michael Olosky, Corporate Senior Vice President and Global Head of Innovation & New Business Develop-ment, Henkel Adhesive Technologies, remarks, “You wouldn’t think of adhesives as an important part of our modern lighting at first. But industrial adhesives are everywhere in our everyday lives: The headlights of cars, illuminated advertising of stores and restaurants, desktop computer screens or smartphone displays – these are examples of everyday objects using the LED technology. What they have in common: They are all built with the application of high-performing adhesives. Within the portfolio of our Adhesive Technologies business unit, there are many products that are used to manufacture innovative LEDs/OLEDs. Henkel adhesives are a key enabler for new lighting solutions.”
According to the report, urbanization in Asia will grow from 44% in 2010 to 53% in 2025, compared to a global increase of just six percent during same period. As the ranks of Asia’s middle class continue to swell, consumer demand for mobility and communications technology will increase, while consumers will also expect greater levels of sustainability and efficiency. These Asian market megatrends will drive the evolution of lighting technology in four key areas: Residential Buildings; Medical Diagnostics and Treatments, Outdoor Applications and Transportation.
In the medical field, medical imaging, mobile monitoring devices and biocompatible sensors will drive a boom in light-based diagnostics. Greener buildings and smart homes will require architectural concepts that can accommodate passive and digitally-connected lighting systems that can be remotely or automatically controlled. Outdoor applications include energy-efficient street and outdoor lighting that maximize the use of daylight, reducing pollution in cities, and intelligent transportation will mean greater demand for signaling and traffic lights and more sustainable lighting applications in eco-friendly vehicles.
The global lighting market is currently estimated to be worth US$66 billion and is forecast to increase to US$100 billion by 2020. According to McKinsey, over 70% of lighting worldwide will be LED-based by 2020. In Asia, demand for LED solutions is particularly high, due to intensive construction projects driven by urbanization, and government support for energy-efficient lighting initiatives. Asia is not only a key consumer of LED lighting, but also a key manufacturer, with thriving LED manufacturing segments in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
Another important market for LEDs is reconstruction – a significant source of demand following the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami. As a result of intensive reconstruction programs of this type, LED market penetration has increased to 50 percent and is expected to keep growing. It is expected to reach 90 percent in Japan.
Organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs, are a development area that goes one step beyond traditional LEDs. OLEDs are flexible, providing uniform surface illumination while saving energy. The technology has already proved its worth in early applications and an increasing number of specific lighting applications such as vehicle manufacturing and the furniture industry are likely to use OLEDs.
Henkel’s technology know-how and early-stage collaborations with market innovators from start-ups to industry leaders position the company uniquely well to identify and leverage emerging market trends and innovate to maximize growth potential. Already at the forefront of LED and OLED lighting, Henkel is innovating adhesive solutions used in production processes to enable high adhesive power, stable color temperature and brightness, good humidity resistance, high optical transparency and electrical and thermal conductivity.
Working in conjunction with Vitriflex, an American start-up, Henkel is pioneering cost-efficient processes for high-volume flexible barrier film that protects electronic components against humidity and oxygen. These flexible barrier films will play a key role in the launch of the first fully flexible displays in electronic devices, significantly increasing the potential for OLED adoption in flexible, customizable lighting solutions.
Cree, a market-leading innovator of lighting products and LED components also speaks highly of Henkel Adhesive Technologies, as a key innovation enabler and for satisfying their stringent criteria. “Incompatible materials such as adhesives can cause the encapsulant to turn brown and block light emitted from the LED,” says David Cox, Director of Alliance Development at Cree, “We are excited by Henkel’s products that meet our requirements and help to maintain the color point of our LEDs. Such adhesives help customers to ensure the consistent quality and long-term reliability of our LED lighting components.”
