This is the second part of a guest-post by Organic Lights (here's the first part and the third part)
Light and Building 2016 showcased a great variety of new, innovative uses for OLED. Next to the classic lighting designs were a host of brand new OLED concepts demonstrating diverse applications spanning different areas of life.
An excellent example of this innovation is the WineOLED created by Italian manufacturer, DesLabs. The idea behind their OLED concept is a problem well known to wine lovers. In order to judge the quality of wine, the color is a pivotal criterion. Ideally, this is aided by good lighting against a light background, something not easily accomplished in a poorly lit wine cellar or restaurant. DesLabs therefore turned to OLED technology to create an application specific to this problem; uniform surface illumination with very low energy consumption. The WineOLED is already available in various versions with the hope in the near future of incorporating wireless charging for mobile devices.
WineOLED - a new way to look at your wine glass
Italian company, LAB32, have created another unique OLED concept. The battery operated light produces a warm ambience through its in-built OLED whilst remaining extremely portable. This handy light could be useful for restaurants or hotels where it is not always possible to create a cosy atmosphere. This light could provide a unique solution that will recommend itself to guests time and again.
LAB32 OLED lamp
Panel Oled, alongside M8TRIX presented a worldwide first OLED-System for large scale light animation. The modular concept can be flexibly scaled to different surfaces and stands out, thanks to its relatively easy and space-saving design and low power consumption. Via the in-built DMX controls, each individual panel can be switched on or off allowing animations to be played across a large surface. This prevents the flickering that appears through current LED/LCD applications when filmed with a digital camera.
Italian manufacturers of designer switches, PLH, showed a number of solutions in which an OLED panel has been integrated as a thin, uniform backlight in different switch applications.
IOLED illuminated switches by PLH
The Versa Series, created by Slovenian technology developers Astel, is a modular concept for use in both home and business environments. Enclosed in aluminum housing, the OLEDs can be flexibly interconnected through integrated drive electronics and connectors on each side, to form a matrix easily attached to a wall or ceiling.
Astel Versa system for OLED wall installations
One of the most innovative OLED concepts in the entire Light and Building show this year came from German lighting specialist Buschfeld. The O-Light series sees the perfect partnership of the Sebastian Herkner designed OLED module and the patented rail system from Prof. Hands Buschfeld. The individual OLED modules are integrated to the neodymium magnet, are freely positionable on the rail, and can also be aligned at different angles.
O-Light is currently the only rail system for professional lighting that can boast the combination of OLED modules and the ability to combine flexibly with other spotlights. These two elements together provide lighting designers with a ready made and ready to use solution uniting the strengths of OLED and LED technologies, optimizing installation space whilst retaining the necessary flexibility for an individual solution.
For further information about any of the products or manufacturers mentioned in this article, or if you have any general questions surrounding OLED, our team at Organic Lights will be happy to help. Contact us at support@organic-lights.com.
Comments
Mr. Anonymous
Two responses to your response... A higher degree of credibility would be conferred on your thoughts were they not shrouded by your anonymity. Second the review was by an OLED advocate for this particular OLED centric audience. I feel the review was in fact favorable in its' tone- it was also fact based and informative. It's my understanding that the OLED segments' technology and offerings at L+B were viewed as fine examples of SSL circa 2016. With so much variety at L+B; the OLED segments' offerings they held up well there.. going by others' opinions.
Just some counterpoints on your comments - from a home owner who uses OLED lighting through out my home!
As much as I love OLED technology I feel like I gotta play the role of the bad guy here:
I've been working in the lighting industry for several years now and part of my job is OLED lighting. Reading your L&B review makes me wonder if you attended the same fair I did. In my impression, but also in just about every professional L&B review that you can find out there, it is noted that OLED lighting played next to no role in this year's fair and was limited to niche applications and / or very few manufacturers (mainly LG and Sumitomo). Especially compared to the last two Light&Building exhibitions the drop-off was significant. I do not buy into the whole "OLED lighting is dead" theory, but the technology is definitely going through the disillusionment part of the hype cycle right now.
Whether we like it or not OLED lighting is going through some hard times and while I appreciate the info from OrganicLights, I would also have expected a bit more objective reporting instead of a piece that in my opinion sounds too much like whistling in the dark.