Philips: T5 Upgrade Leads the Green Industry

In the straight-tube fluorescent lamp product lineup, the T5, with its smallest diameter, has always maintained the highest energy efficiency ratio. The new T5 fluorescent tube launched by Philips this time, whether in terms of product performance or energy-saving effects, represents a new leap forward compared to the previous generation. It can not only maintain a high luminous output but also reduce the number of light sources used to a minimum, and its compact size, combined with various luminaires, has broad application prospects in schools, offices, shops, factories, and other venues.

The green lighting industry centered on energy conservation is not only reflected in specific products; the current international trend is that energy-saving and environmental protection principles must be followed from raw materials to the manufacturing process. According to the organizer, the Yizheng production base has met the requirements of green production in every link around the new T5 fluorescent lamp production organization, from production to offline use and recycling. Taking advantage of the West-East Gas Pipeline, clean, pollution-free natural gas is used as energy; at the same time, the mercury content of each T5 fluorescent tube is reduced to 3 milligrams, and the materials used inside the tube can be fully recycled.

Luo Peiliang, General Manager of Philips Lighting Yizheng Company, said: Increasing the proportion of green lighting products is our development direction. In recent years, as Chinese users have come to increasingly recognize the economic and social benefits of green lighting, the demand for energy-saving products represented by T5 is also growing day by day. We will fully meet the needs of the domestic market. At the same time, we will also ensure high product consistency and reliability through a strict quality assurance system and process control.

Innovation Technology and Mature Products: A Sustainable Pyramid

As LED products have been gradually accepted in China and the domestic LED industry experienced rapid development in 2009, China's LED industry has also begun to receive close attention from society. Philips, one of the few companies in the global lighting industry with a complete industrial chain covering chips, packaging, luminaires and applications, has its performance constantly influencing the direction of the industry. According to Philips' financial report for Q4 2009: the lighting business showed signs of recovery, with revenue growing significantly and sales rebounding despite the continued decline in the global commercial construction market. Particularly noteworthy is that LED product sales exceeded 10% of the entire segment's revenue for the first time.

So, regarding fluorescent lamps with mature technology, widespread application, and ongoing development, and LED at the forefront of technology with capital-favored development prospects, what kind of balancing act will Philips Lighting adopt to meet the diverse needs of the market? This has also become a concern for all industry professionals and researchers.

The lighting market needs the fresh vitality of innovative technology, and also needs mature lighting products to support it. Therefore, Philips has adopted a dual-track strategy of emerging technology and mature products. Before the next-generation lighting technology and commercial applications are fully mature, Philips advocates actively developing and reserving LED technology research on one hand, but not blindly launching or seeking quick results in large-scale application implementation; on the other hand, accelerating further optimization and improvement of mainstream products and mature technologies, which is a greener transformation solution with higher social benefits. To achieve these, Philips strongly advocates feasible and pragmatic solutions to reduce building energy consumption, promoting the conversion from T8 to T5 systems. This conversion, in addition to light sources and ballast systems, also includes promoting T8 conversion brackets to reduce luminaire replacement costs.

In this regard, Philips Lighting Greater China CEO Liangqi Lin's view is: what we are creating is a sustainable lighting industry, and a sustainable product line should be like a healthy and balanced dietary structure. At the top of this pyramid, there are product guidelines composed of cutting-edge technologies like LED, which represents our deep understanding of the lighting industry and our expectations for future directions; meanwhile, at the body and base of the pyramid, there are our large number of mature application products and solutions, including our T5 series, which we have been continuously investing in and developing. Through performance data, you will also find that they are constantly improving and upgrading, and this segment will continue to play a mainstay role in the market. Since Philips pioneered the launch of T5, an epoch-making product, globally in 1995, its trajectory of continuous upgrading and its current market share have effectively confirmed this point.

As the structural transformation of the lighting industry draws ever nearer, changes centered on energy conservation and environmental protection have become imperative. Experts estimate that T5 fluorescent lamps, which occupy an important position in commercial and industrial lighting, will also embrace new market opportunities. By leveraging the continued implementation of national energy-saving subsidy policies, Philips has secured a leading position in the industry through its LED R&D and applications, while continuously deepening its engagement in the existing mature fluorescent lamp market. An industry layout and roadmap emphasizing sustainable development are gradually emerging with clarity in the China lighting market.