Seeing the light on energy savings (hktdc.com)


	TBT's CEO Victor Lam (left) and business partner Samson Tam found their product was well received at the recent Light & Built trade fair in Frankfurt

A Hong Kong company has come up with an innovative line of energy saving, long lasting lamps and light bulbs using its proprietary cold cathode fluorescent (CCFL) technology.

Top Brilliant Technology Ltd (TBT) showed off its "first of its kind" lamps which look like incandescent lights but use 80 per cent less energy and last 15 times longer.

TBT CEO Victor Lam explained: "Our CCFL product has a minimum of 15,000 hours of life which corresponds to more than five years without the need of replacing the lamp due to the efficient power performance. It also saves 80 per cent of its energy when compared with the normal incandescent output."

He added that TBT's newly invented bulb integrates two useful functions – brightness control and adjustable colour temperature. With the flick of a switch, you can either dim the bulb from 100 per cent to 5 per cent or adjust the colour temperature from cold white for daylight to warm white.

Groundbreaking technology


	This innovative, energy saving, long lasting lamp was launched in Hong Kong, the "world's best platform" to commercialise products

Mr Lam pointed out that CCFL technology has been around for some time but claims TBT is the first company that has managed to apply this CCFL technology for general lighting. TBT's new lamps have the capability to be dimmed by the ordinary incandescent wall mount dimmers, and can provide dimming or adjustable colour temperature.

"This makes them ideal for residential or commercial use. These new lamps provide a dynamic lighting effect for the user, harmonising with his individual requirements and mood," he said.

The new CCFLite technology based on the Cold Cathode Fluorescent lamp is sure to have a huge impact on the industry. Up to now, CCFL is only used mainly by the LCD industry for its backlights.

The innovative product, which was launched to enthusiastic response at the recent Light & Built trade fair in Frankfurt, is the result of extensive R&D done in both US and the Chinese mainland. "We started doing basic research at Hangzhou University four years ago by replacing the hot filament of a light bulb with cold cathode. Then in 2004, we made up some successful samples and patented the technology," Mr Lam said.

HK an ideal platform

In 2005, the Hong Kong-based company TBT was set up with investor funds led by Samson Tam who is Chairman of another electronics company, Group Sense (International) Ltd, to bring the "new invention" to global markets. Production facilities were also established in Dongguan, southern China.

Mr Lam, who returned to Hong Kong after 30 years in the US, said Hong Kong is an ideal place to test and commercialise a new product. "Hong Kong is the best platform in the world with the best opportunities to found a company and commercialise the products."

Mr Tam agreed. "Being based in Hong Kong, I believe the company got into the right field, which is the saving of energy. The product is also environmentally friendly which is a big plus factor. I strongly believe in original products and patents. In Hong Kong, you have to invest in companies with a strong patent history and a good research & development team."