Halogen bulbs

	This dimmable halogen bulb from GMY has a 100 CRI and a service life of up to 2,000 hours.

To meet tougher efficiency requirements, makers are releasing units that consume 30 percent less energy.

Growing environmental awareness is driving innovation in China’s halogen and incandescent bulb industries.

Suppliers are racing to comply with recently implemented and upcoming energy laws in key markets. Under efforts to combat climate change, restrictions on the import and sale of power-guzzling light sources such as incandescent bulbs were enforced in several countries this year. Australia was the first to implement such directives in February, while EU members started the gradual phase-out in September.

The US and Canada are preparing to follow suit in coming months. In fact, some buyers there are already reducing their inventories.

Seeing huge growth potential amid these developments, makers of halogen bulbs, on the other hand, are positioning products as energy-saving substitutes for incandescent lamps.

In this regard, manufacturers are incorporating better quality tungsten filaments and adjusting the proportion of nitrogen, iodine and bromine contained within the glass capsule. Besides increasing luminous efficacy, these changes help lengthen service life by up to three times.

Manufacturers of incandescent bulbs, meanwhile, are bolstering R&D to adhere to tougher requirements.

Companies are using special reflective coatings that direct waste heat produced during electricity-to-luminous energy conversion toward the filament, where it is transformed into light.

In addition, a number are incorporating halogen technology in designs. These reformed models, in essence, generate light the same way as halogen versions but retain their original shape and illumination quality. Such an approach is being adopted by more than half of China’s incandescent bulb makers.

Modifications across both categories are yielding halogen and incandescent bulbs that consume 30 percent less power than previous releases.

Directives banning lamps with high energy consumption are impacting China’s halogen bulb exports positively.

According to the China Association of Lighting Industry, overseas revenue in the first half of 2009 rose 18 percent year on year. Distributors are stocking up on halogen bulbs in response to the line’s growing popularity, particularly among environmentally aware consumers.

To spur development further, makers are maximizing their price edge over similarly eco-friendly, albeit more expensive, light sources such as LEDs.

Besides general applications, halogen bulbs are gaining ground in the automotive industry. Half of exports in the line actually go this sector, with units employed mainly in auxiliary and headlight assemblies.

Overseas shipments of incandescent models from January to June, in contrast, dropped about 14 percent from the same period last year. Despite weakening sales, China suppliers have no plans of abandoning production of the line, as demand from several developing countries remains stable.

To shore up exports, companies are offering more models with energy-saving features and limiting output of conventional designs. Many are also focusing on Africa, and Central and South America instead of traditional markets in North America and Europe.

China-made halogen bulbs are available with or without a reflector, which determines light projection. Models consume between 5 and 250W of power. Voltage ratings are from 2.5 to 12V, 110 to 130V, and 220 to 240V.

Low- and high-power versions are offered. The JC and MR types are 5 to 100W designs with a G4, G5.3 or G6.35 base. The JCD, JD, JDR and PAR variations are rated at 20 to 250W, and incorporate an E11, E14, E17, E26, E27, G8, G9 or GU10 lamp holder.

Halogen bulbs go for $0.08 to $2 per unit, depending on the quality of the tungsten filament and the quartz glass envelope.

Products equipped with imported filaments that can last up to 2,000 hours are naturally more expensive than those with domestic components. Designs incorporating UV-filtering capsules are priced about 10 percent higher compared with regular models.

Halogen lamps come from about 2,000 suppliers, half of which specialize in models for automotive applications.

Incandescent bulbs, meanwhile, can be procured from roughly 3,000 companies. The manufacturing base is expected to contract in the next six months as some enterprises shift to the halogen line.

The segment consists of A-line, globe, candle and indicator models. These can have an E12, E14, E17, E26, E27, B15 or B22 base made of iron, brass or aluminum. Power ratings are from 3 to 100W and between 6 and 240V. Designs last up to 2,000 hours.

Quotes are usually less than $1. The shape and the surface treatment are the major price determinants.

Low-end and some midrange A-line models with clear constructions go for no more than $0.08. Exceeding $0.10, designs for the high end can have a frosted finish, UV-resistant feature or handpainted pattern.

For candle-shaped types, transparent versions are priced below $0.10, while those with a pearl finish or colorful coating are $0.10 and above.