CONSUMERS WHO want to save energy and the environment are being assisted by a lighting industry that is doing all it can to make that possible. Thanks to new technologies and inventive design and development, there are now products that last longer and function extra effectively. 'We are also making things smaller, so there's less waste, less energy consumption, but more light,' said Howard Ng, senior marketing manager for Megaman (HK) Electrical & Lighting. Mr Ng said the company's business philosophy focused on compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and environmentally friendly practices across the manufacturing process. 'Our products last between 10,000 and 15,000 hours, compared to the approximately 1,000 hours' lifespan for halogen lamps and incandescent bulbs,' he said. 'And they consume about 20 per cent less energy.' A 100-strong research and development team drives innovation. Most of the team members are based at the company's factories in Xiamen. Their best ideas are assessed at monthly product board meetings and, on average, three to four concepts a year are developed commercially. A recent example was the company's 'dimming on random switches' or 'DorS technology, which allows the adjustment of a light to four levels of brightness simply by using the standard on/off switch. One flick will reduce the illumination to 66 per cent of the normal brightness, two flicks to 33 per cent, and so on. Microchips inside the lamp remember the sequence. Other in-house innovations include the 'silicon sleeve', which can be slipped over a bulb for a frosting effect, and a patented 'dimmer-able' technology, intended for commercial premises such as hotels and bars, that significantly reduces electricity costs. 'Product development is what gives us an edge in this market,' Mr Ng said. 'At present, we have around 2,000 stock-keeping units [SKUs] in our range. We have to be very aware of environmental compliance standards in Europe and Asia.' Megaman is also attempting to further miniaturise the electronic components inside a CFL, to reduce use of raw materials and ultimately cut down industrial waste. The company's sales turnover in 2005 was close to US$200 million, while annual growth is about 20 per cent. Meanwhile, customer demand is increasing, and Megaman already has plans on the drawing board to expand production capacity in China. 'There is definitely a huge opportunity to create a lot more products and for the business to grow in the next 10 years,' Mr Ng said. 'In terms of marketing, we plan to expand our worldwide coverage and to move aggressively into North and South America and Africa.' He said this would lead to openings for engineers, sales and marketing people and support staff in HR, accounts, logistics and purchasing. Other companies in the sector are also optimistic about growth. Hankey Asia is chiefly into solar-powered lighting systems and, according to company director Anthony Chan, business is brisk. 'The market is growing very fast, though at present our products are mostly for export to Europe, Southeast Asia and the United States,' Mr Chan said. Power is generated by solar panels that absorb sunlight and store energy in a battery. The panels can be placed beside a window or on the roof of a building, depending on requirements. 'We turned to green products about 10 years ago,' Mr Chan explained. The company has since obtained several worldwide patents, including one for a table light and a six-volt 'mini lighting system' for residential use. Hankey Asia has also pioneered solar-powered street lighting. A standard unit contains a solar panel, a lamp, a controller and a battery. No alternating current (A/C) support is necessary, and the system functions even in cloudy conditions and in any season. The goods are made in the company's own 100-worker factory in Shenzhen. Lampposts can be supplied through a subcontractor. 'The street-lights run through the night and switch on and off automatically,' Mr Chan said. 'The lamps last for over five years, with no need for maintenance and no need to change the bulb.' The system has been adopted by contractors and importers in Japan, Malaysia, Sweden and South Africa. All being well, Hong Kong's first 28 solar-powered street-lights will be installed at a pier near Tsuen Wan later this year. 'We are in discussions with the construction company, not directly with the government,' Mr Chan said. Committed to environmentally friendly products, Hankey Asia also manufactures LED (light emitting diode) bulbs. 'We have been investing in this, and it is now a very mature product,' Mr Chan said. New regulations coming into effect next year in Europe and Japan would mean a greater demand for energy-saving bulbs, he said. 'There will be significant changes in the lighting industry in the next few years,' he predicted. 'We have plans to expand, step by step.' key players Marketing director Brand manager Sales manager R&D engineer Product manager Project manager jargon Lumen unit to measure the brightness of a lamp Colour temperature the light given off by a bulb: as in warm white, cool white or daylight Lamp base the part of the bulb used to attach it to the lighting fixture; usually screw-in or two pins RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) international regulations to promote environmentally friendly standards
