Market researchers forecast a threefold increase up to almost 13 billion Euros by 2012 for lightemitting diodes (LEDs) and organic LEDs (OLEDs). These technologies offer a particularly small size, a long lifetime and top levels of energy-efficiency, thus opening up new applications and new markets.

LEDs are already well established in some market segments, such as backlighting for cell phones and television sets or in the automotive sector. In other areas, such as outdoor lighting (tunnels/streets) and the private domain, LEDs are on the verge of a breakthrough. OSRAM expects that LED retrofits as replacements for incandescent lamps will take hold on the market and trigger rising demand. Growth will be driven by falling prices, further technical developments, and global political efforts to ban inefficient bulbs. New and established technologies such as halogen and energy-saving light bulbs will continue to exist side-by-side on the market for many years to come.

OSRAM sees the next development step in the lighting market in the field of organic LEDs. "In November we launched "Orbeos", thus becoming the first company to offer an OLED for installation in designer luminaires. This has given us a head start in this young and promising market," commented Dr. Rüdiger Müller, head of OSRAM's LED operations. He added: "We expect the greatest impact in those areas where OLED technology's unique selling points really come into their own, namely as extremely slim, efficient and transparent surface-emitting panels with a very good light quality." OLEDs are therefore not only a light source but also provide modern design opportunities even when they are switched off.

At the same time, these new technologies are also extremely energy-efficient. A recent study conducted by OSRAM confirms that light-emitting diodes today are just as environmentally-friendly as energy-saving lamps, and streets ahead of conventional bulbs in terms of their ecological impact. The latest generation of OSRAM LED lamps achieves a lifetime of 25,000 hours with a power input of 8 watts. 25 conventional 40-watt light bulbs would be needed to achieve the same burning life, each with an average lifetime of 1,000 hours. Over 66 percent of OSRAM sales come from energy-efficient products, this will increase up to 80 percent within the next years.