GE invests $100 million to grow LED business

04 Sep 2006

GE invests heavily to develop LED solutions to reach the world's estimated $12 billion lighting market.

US-based General Electric Company, through its Consumer & Industrial business and Nichia, has formed a strategic alliance to support Gelcore, Cleveland, Ohio.

Gelcore, formed in 1999, was previously a joint venture between GE and Emcore, Somerset, NJ. GE purchased Emcore's 49% interest in the joint venture for $100 million, demonstrating a commitment to invest in LED technology.

The agreement combines GELcore's LED system strengths in the transportation, signage, specialty and general illumination segments with Nichia's extensive phosphor and optoelectronics products, such as LEDs. Both companies expect to benefit from each other's expertise and penetrate the high-growth LED general illumination segment.

"This agreement is a true win-win outcome for both parties and clearly demonstrates GE's commitment to solid state lighting technology. GE and Nichia's combined excellence creates a pre-eminent alliance that is ideally suited to support GELcore's efforts to accelerate the growth and penetration of LED-based lighting solutions in the $12 billion global lighting segment," said Michael B. Petras, Jr., Vice President, Electrical Distribution & Lighting.

"This is a historic agreement when you consider that GE, a world leader in traditional lighting technology and LED systems and Nichia, a world leader in phosphor and optoelectronics technology are joining forces to advance LED technology and accelerate the penetration of LEDs into the general lighting industry," said Noboru Tazaki, Executive VP & COO of Nichia.

About GELcore, LLC

GELcore, LLC, drives innovation and energy efficiency for industries that use LED products, systems and solutions. GELcore solutions are fitted with robust, low-voltage, long-life LED light engines.

About GE Consumer & Industrial

GE Consumer & Industrial spans the globe with leading positions in major appliance, lighting and integrated industrial equipment, systems and services. Providing solutions for commercial, industrial and residential use in more than 100 countries, GE Consumer & Industrial employs innovative technologies and "ecomagination," a GE initiative to take to market new technologies.

About Nichia

Nichia develops GaN-based optoelectronics products, including UV, blue, green and white LED products and blue-violet laser diodes. The application of products includes cellular phones, digital cameras, traffic signals, full-color displays, electronics signboards, and optical storages. Nichia is headquartered in Anan, Tokushima, Japan and has operations throughout the world. Please visit for more information.