Are OLEDs the future of the commercial lighting world?

There are several different types of light bulbs that can be used for commercial lighting. Halogen lamps, LEDs and even the old-fashioned incandescent bulbs have all been put to use over the years, with varying degree of success. Today, low-energy, high-efficiency LED bulbs lead the way when it comes to modern illumination, and a relatively new version of the type is beginning to make waves in the lighting sector – but is it all it's cracked up to be?

OLED to believe…

The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is made from carbon-based materials that glow when connected to electricity. They are typically used to create aesthetically pleasing lighting displays, or lighting panels for illuminating large rooms. 

The material from which they are made is very thin and, according to OLED-Info, the only kind of bulb in existence that can make both flexible and transparent panels. Additionally, they emit a fine, soft-diffused light – the same source states that OLEDs are the closest artificial light source to natural light that has ever been devised. They are very popular, for example, in high-end television sets – but are they set to make other forms of lighting obsolete.

In a word, no. A new market report, analyst company Yole states that the OLED market share will reach a projected NZ$2.2 billion by 2021, but the future of the technology 'remains uncertain.' Why?

Lighting the market

"The multiplicity of OLED technologies makes the optimal selection difficult and many challenges facing this technology include relatively high manufacturing costs and a still non-structured supply chain, which must be overcome if the technology is to reach its full potential," said Pars Mukish, Business Unit Manager at Yole.

The report goes on to state that OLEDs have long been overshadowed by their better-known counterparts, and that the OLED market is 100 times smaller than the LED one. 

We at Aesthetic Lighting Solutions are keeping a close eye on the situation, and are always looking for innovative new technology for which to supply our customers – could OLEDs be next?