Exclusive Interview with Ling Yingming, Chairman of the Zhejiang Lighting Association | Annual Review (Part II)
For the lighting industry, 2024 was a year marked by significant challenges, transformation, and innovation.
2024 年，照明行业宛如一幅波澜壮阔、充满变数的画卷，在技术革新、市场动态、应用拓展等诸多领域留下了深刻印记。这一年，智能照明技术愈发成熟，试图为消费者开启全新的光影体验；健康照明、老宜小照明的需求迅速增长；绿色照明、可持续发展和符合ESG标准的产品逐渐成为市场的主流需求；一站式购物、一体化装修将成为消费市场的新常态；跨界融合渐成风尚；从“全光谱护眼”到结合AI与传感器驱动自适应场景的停车场照明系统等技术应运而生……同时，作为照明行业的资深从业者，我们都以各自独特的视角，深切感受着市场竞争的激烈与行业的内卷，亲眼目睹着行业的跌宕起伏。
Looking back on this year, there are many reflections. So, what did 2024 look like in the eyes of lighting professionals? What severe challenges were encountered, and what remarkable new changes emerged? Looking ahead to 2025, which is approaching with steady strides, what development trends and situations will the lighting industry present? How should lighting companies respond agilely, adjust strategies flexibly, and adapt to market changes and numerous challenges? At the beginning of the new year, China Light Network specially launches the "Year-End Review" series, inviting lighting professionals who have worked in the industry for many years to look back on the stormy journey of the lighting industry, summarize the past, and plan for the future.
In this issue, China Lighting Network is honored to interview Mr. Ling Yingming, Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Lighting Electrical Association. Listen as he clears the clouds to interpret the present and future of the lighting industry. He pointed out that in 2024, the lighting industry made significant progress in technological innovation, application practices, and market expansion. Facing challenges, enterprises need to continuously enhance their capabilities and seize market opportunities to adapt to industry developments. Ling Yingming Chairman of the Zhejiang Provincial Lighting Electrical Association Q1 Please briefly summarize your view of the lighting industry in 2024. Answer: In 2024, market demand remained weak, economic development showed a平缓 trend, and the triple pressures persisted. Driven by technological progress and evolving social needs, the lighting industry continued to develop, especially under the drive of intelligence and low-carbon transformation, with further improvements in lighting quality and diversified innovative development. Q2 What new changes or developments do you think occurred in the lighting industry in 2024 in terms of technological innovation, application practice, market, design upgrade, or policies and standards? Answer: In 2024, the lighting industry focused on strengthening its internal capabilities and continuously innovating, and its development trends are very obvious. 比如：技术创新方面，重点突破智能照明技术，让新推出的智能照明系统改变了传统的单一产品概念，让照明产品更好的适应用户对用光的需求；LED技术也在不断的突破，全光谱的发展给了用户的个好的体验。应用实践方面，家居照明、商业照明，除了基本照明功能，还植入了智能、健康元素，让光环境更加舒适；在城市照明、文旅照明方面，也更多的采用集成、智慧控制的技术，更好的向低碳、节能的方向发展。 在市场方面，单一产品的购买力大幅衰退，随之而来的是需要将生产性服务植入到市场中，拓展生态链，营造高端照明产品市场。在标准化方面也在拓展跨界融合的产品标准，如：涉及到智能照明产品的安全性、兼容性等等。 Q3 What are the main challenges facing lighting companies in 2024? In response to these challenges, which corporate strategies do you consider to have proven more effective? Answer: The main challenges facing lighting companies in 2024: First, intense industry competition; Second, a shortage of innovative talent for new quality productive forces; Third, diversified market demand and slow corporate response speed; Fourth, significant impact from fluctuations in raw material, energy, and logistics prices; Fifth, challenges posed by the guidance of standards and the constraints of environmental protection regulations. 针对上述挑战，我们一要审时度势的开展企业的诊断，发挥自身的强势，克服企业软肋，制定科学的策略和行之有效的措施，提升企业的竞争力。要较大新质生产力开发力度，开发出新型的照明技术；要凝聚团队力量，发挥团队的拓展能力；要引入数字化发展的强大功能，不断提升企业和产品的数字化水平，要利用AI技术开发照明未来产品；要稳定供应链，强化上中下游产业链的衔接，优化供应链的布局，让性价比有优势的原材料供应商服务于照明行业；要精炼内功，优化设计、优化工艺流程、减少废品、提升合格率、精细成本核算、降低各项费用；要分析不同需求，确定不同市场，重视品牌建设，让企业品牌提升社会的认知度。 Q4 What development trends and dynamics do you foresee for the lighting industry in 2025? How should lighting companies adjust their strategies to adapt to market changes and challenges? Please provide your suggestions. Answer: In 2025, under the policy guidance of the Central Economic Work Conference, the lighting industry will also usher in a new spring. Intelligent development, innovative applications of AI technology, implementation of green and low-carbon initiatives, and cross-industry integration to expand the ecosystem chain will all promote industry development. We must seize the opportunities and create a bright future by promoting smart innovation, low-carbon leadership, and healthy development in the industry! Expert Introduction Ling Yingming Chairman of the Zhejiang Lighting Electrical Appliance Association Senior Engineer in Electric light source Technology and Management. Director of the Zhejiang Lighting Electrical Appliance Standardization Technical Committee, Director of the Sub-Technical Committee on Luminaire Standardization of the Zhejiang Lighting Electrical Appliance Standardization Technical Committee. Formerly: Factory Director of Hangzhou Light Bulb Factory; Chairman and General Manager of Hangzhou Lighting Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd.; Chairman and General Manager of Hangzhou Shidai Lighting Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd.; General Manager of Youchang (Hangzhou) Lighting Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd., among others. Long-term engagement in the technology, production, and management of lighting sources. Led the team to introduce advanced international electric light source technologies, and collaborated with universities and research institutions such as Southeast University to lead the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" national scientific and technological key project—research on processes and equipment for low-power lighting metal halide lamps. Single-ended (double-ended) lighting metal halide lamps won the Third Prize of Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award; processes and research for low-power metal halide lamps won the Third Prize of Zhejiang Provincial Science and Technology Progress Award. Previously awarded as one of the Top Ten Contributors in Light Industry Science and Technology of Hangzhou, Outstanding Scientific and Technological Worker, Advanced Individual in the "Ninth Five-Year Plan" National Scientific and Technological Key Project by the State Bureau of Light Industry, and recipient of the Hangzhou "May 1st" Labor Medal. Participated in the formulation and revision of the national standard for single-ended metal halide lamps (scandium-sodium series), co-authored "Preliminary Study on Intrinsic Performance of Low-Power Metal Halide Lamps", "Research and Development of 35W Metal Halide Lamps", "Analysis of Characteristic Parameters of Metal Halide Lamps", which were presented at the National Electric Light Source Science and Technology Seminar and published in the journal "Lamp and Lighting". Presided over the release of association standards, including: T/ZALI 0001-2016 "Technical Specification for Interchangeability of Key Components of LED Lamps for Road lighting", T/ZAL I0002-2016 "Technical Specification for Application of Intelligent Control Technology of LED Lamps for Road lighting", T/ZALI/0003-2018 "Technical Specification for LED Lighting in Medical Buildings", T/ZALI/0004-2018 "Technical Specification for LED Lamps for Road lighting", T/ZALI 0005—2019 "Specification Classification of LED Filaments for Lighting", T/ZALI 0006—2019 "Performance Requirements for Integrated LED Filament Lamps for General Lighting", T/ZALI 0007—2019 "Safety Requirements for Double-Ended Integrated LED Lamps", T/ZALI 0008—2019 "Performance Requirements for Double-Ended Integrated LED Lamps"; among them, T/ZAL I0002-2016 "Technical Specification for Application of Intelligent Control Technology of LED Lamps for Road lighting" was awarded the National Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Top 100 Demonstration Group Standards.