Philips Research Press Release

The Lighting Division of Philips will probably post a strong sales growth this year in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. This growth is caused by a stronger demand in the area of luminaires and energy-efficient and consumer-centric lighting device technologies. The upward trend is due to the economic upturn in the construction industry and an increased willingness to invest on the part of companies and local authorities, as well as growing demand for high-grade, energy-efficient technologies and products.

In the first three quarters of 2007, sales of compact fluorescent lamps, which are at the center of the debate on energy-efficient private lighting, rose by 80 per cent in the German market alone. Because of rising energy prices and the current debate on the climate, further definite growth is to be expected in this field. “Our strategy is focused very much on the needs of our customers”, said Robert Pfarrwaller, head of Philips Lighting for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Hence we believe that we will benefit more than average from the general growth trend.” Furthermore, Philips is increasing its production capacity for energy-saving lamps in Eastern Europe and Asia and in the coming years intends to invest roughly 100 million euros internationally both in research and development of energy-efficient lighting solutions.

“We are concerned, as before, about the prices going down strongly”, Pfarrwaller stated. “This situation will not change fundamentally. Our solution is to focus and accelerate innovation, and to develop and bring to market added-value products continually, for example, the Cosmopolis and Master Color Lamps.” Philips Lighting aims at market growth, more than at growth of market share. The foundation for this are, among others, energy-efficient lighting solutions with improved light, and LED technology.

“Now, however, it is also a matter of ensuring that demand increases among companies and the public sector’’, Pfarrwaller stated. There is not only a large potential there for making savings, but also a corresponding potential for sales. Philips can already point to first sizeable successes with street-lighting projects in Vechta and Böblingen. Additionally, Philips Lighting has started the climate protection initiative ‘cool down’ in cooperation with ECE in Hamburg, the European market leader in the area of shopping centers. And as part of the ‘Eco Store’ program of retailer C&A, Philips is equipping approximately 200 outlets with environmentally friendly TL-D eco-lamps. The energy savings compared with traditional lamp systems can rise up to 15 per cent.

Solutions based on LED technology, which require roughly 95 per cent less energy than incandescent lamps for the same luminous efficacy, will also become increasingly relevant for Philips Lighting in Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the future. Sales of LED products in the German-speaking countries are expected to double in the next three years. This is to be made possible above all by new LED products like the living room luminaire LivingColors or various groups of luminaires for accent lighting of buildings or retail outlets.

Philips researchers are at present also testing a prototype of an LED lamp that produces more light with about 400 lumens than a 20 W low-voltage halogen lamp. “That means that in the foreseeable future we shall be able to replace ceiling luminaires based on halogen with LED solutions’’, said Ulrich Schiebel, head of light sources and systems at Philips Research in Aachen. So LED technology will be taking another step towards being used for general lighting.

The organic LED segment, on the other hand, still requires some years of development time. At present Philips is working mainly on improving the efficiency and economic life of organic LEDs. “Furthermore, manufacturing costs have to be further reduced if we are to be able to supply organic LED products at affordable prices.’’ Philips expects the first pilot project with organic LEDs for the coming one to two years.
 

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For more information please contact:
 

Saskia Maas
Philips Research / Communications Department
Tel.: +31 (0)6 12999910
E-mail: saskia.maas@philips.com

 

About Royal Philips Electronics

Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a global leader in healthcare, lighting and consumer lifestyle, delivering people-centric, innovative products, services and solutions through the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 134,200 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 27 billion in 2007, the company is a market leader in medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring systems, energy efficient lighting solutions, as well as lifestyle solutions for personal wellbeing. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.