With its investment in the California-based UV-C LED specialist Bolb Inc., Osram is further expanding its technological know-how of disinfection applications with UV-C light. The future cooperation between the two companies in the field of research will accelerate the industrialization of highly efficient and high-performance UV-C LEDs. Unlike previous solutions, LED-based disinfection systems require very little space and can be installed directly at the point of use – such as in water taps, washing machines, or ventilation systems. Space-saving disinfection solutions make an important contribution to combating the coronavirus.
Olaf Berlien, CEO, OSRAM Licht AG, said: “Osram already has various UV-C light solutions for disinfection, including LED and traditional technologies. The strategic investment in Bolb strengthens our know-how in the UV-C LED field and gives Osram a leading position in the market for disinfection with non-visible light.”
Currently, the majority of UV-C disinfection applications are based on conventional lighting technologies, usually mercury vapor lamps. Compared to these traditional lamps, UV-C LED technology has the potential to consume significantly less energy, while still providing the high light output required. The collaboration between Osram and Bolb promises to overcome this technological hurdle. A unique technology building block for UV-C LEDs, Bolb is already succeeding in achieving outstanding efficiency values that are far ahead of other products available on the market.
Ulrich Eisele, Head of Fluxunit, Osram’s Venture Capital Unit, said: “With Osram’s decades of experience in the development and manufacturing of semiconductor-based products, this partnership sets the course for Osram and Bolb to lead the market for UV-C LEDs.”
Similar to the many advantages LEDs provide for conventional lighting applications versus traditional lighting technologies, UV-C LEDs promises a variety of benefits for manufacturers of disinfection solutions. These include lower energy consumption, long lifetime, and significantly simplified system design due to the compact size of the light sources.
