News

12 January 2009

 

BluGlass’s LED technology to be distributed in Japan by Itochu Plastics

BluGlass Ltd, which was spun off from Australia’s Macquarie University in 2005, has signed a sales and distribution agreement giving the sole rights to market its GaN-on-glass LED manufacturing technology in Japan to Itochu Plastics Inc (CIPS), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Itochu Corp (one of Japan’s oldest and largest trading companies). CIPS specializes in importing and exporting materials for electronic devices, packaging, industrial materials and synthetic resin materials.

The deal follows a visit by CIPS executives in late December to BluGlass’s commercial-scale pilot manufacturing plant in Silverwater, Sydney (opened less than six months ago, last July). “We have been talking to CIPS since August and they, together with BluGlass, have successfully introduced BluGlass technology to the Japanese market [one of the world's largest markets for LEDs],” says BluGlass CEO Giles Bourne. BluGlass claims that its unique remote plasma chemical vapor deposition (RPCVD) technology allows the production of gallium nitride based wafers (for LEDs) much more cheaply than existing processes.

CIPS’ sales team will promote the RPCVD technology and equipment to demonstrate the core competences of both firms regarding GaN-based wafers for the Japanese LED market, says CIPS’ general manager. BluGlass’s technology and equipment complement the technology that CIPS already delivers to the Japanese LED market, as well as enabling expansion of CIPS’ range of materials for LEDs to leading-edge GaN LED applications, he adds.

Bourne says that BluGlass’s ultimate plan is to sell its manufacturing equipment to the Japanese market through Itochu, involving payments for the plant equipment as well as ongoing licensing fees. “We are also hoping to negotiate strategic collaborations with Japanese corporations so that we can further develop uses for our technology,” he adds.

The deal with Itochu shows that BluGlass is progressing well on its long-stated plan to commercialize its GaN technology, says Bourne. “This is a breakthrough in the commercialization of our next-generation lighting technology,” he adds. BluGlass will be seeking to set up similar agreements in different markets around the world.

See related items:

BluGlass forms Technology Council to drive commercialization

BluGlass’s plant opened by Australian Environment Minister

BluGlass to open pilot manufacturing plant in July

EMF announces multiple MOCVD orders

BluGlass makes its first quantum well LEDs

Search: BluGlass LEDs GaN

Visit: www.bluglass.com.au

Visit: www.itc-ps.co.jp