Flip chip technology steadily gains ground in China's LED module production

More mainland China companies in the LED module segment are expected to venture into the advanced flip chip category in the long run as applications increase.

Mainland China's optoelectronics sector continues to follow dynamic developments in the LED industry, especially as applications multiply. In the packaging segment, options that enhance diode performance have been coming up. One of them is flip chip technology, which has been attracting the attention of more local manufacturers turning out COB LED modules in recent years.

Types based on the former exhibit high thermal conductivity and low thermal resistance, can withstand elevated current and support a long operating life for overall high reliability. As such, these suit high-power and -brightness LED lighting used in outdoor and industrial installations.

Major domestic LED module company APT, the first to adopt the technology in the mainland, invested $230 million in a new factory in Nansha, Guangzhou in Guangdong province to produce high-power variants. Its annual production value is $230 million.

Interviewed maker Shenzhen Fedy Technology Co. Ltd will continue to boost output by 5 to 10 percent through 2019. It has been actively pursuing R&D and will release models with rated power of up to 200W. The category already represents 30 percent of total shipments.

Only a few suppliers, however, are engaged in production and will likely be the same ones until 2019. Even so, the outlook is upbeat in the face of rising demand, especially in the line's niche markets. The annual growth rate in requirement was 10 to 15 percent in the past two years and will stay in this range until 2019.

Flip-chip LED modules are expected to eventually extend to indoor and outdoor medium-power LED lighting applications. The technology is also forecast to gradually replace COB and SMD counterparts in high-end LED lighting and will relegate the last two to the low- and midlevel segments in coming years.

At present, flip-chip modules account for 10 to 20 percent of the mainland's aggregate shipments of COB units. This may go up to between 20 and 30 percent in the next one or two years, while exports are projected to get a 10 to 15 percent boost. The latter's estimated share of output is more than 40 percent. The US, Europe and Asia are the key destinations.

The current supplier count in the mainland is below 100. All companies churn out mainstream SMD and COB types, in addition to DIP variants, LEDs and LED lights.

More than 60 percent of the manufacturers are locally owned and the rest with foreign investment, mainly from Taiwan and Hong Kong. The majority operates in Guangdong, specifically in the cities of Shenzhen and Dongguan. There are also a number in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, while some have chosen to set up base in the central region for its low labor cost.

Mainstream lineup

Mostly for high-power outdoor and industrial lighting applications, local flip-chip LED modules come in variants with more than 100 lm/W luminous efficacy, up to 95 CRI and over 5W rated power.

Shenzhen Fedy offers the model FD-4046 with 130 lm/W and in 50, 60, 80 and 100W-rated versions. The optoelectronic component uses a high-purity aluminum base and has a life span surpassing 80,000 hours.

Mainland makers purchase flip chips from foreign or domestic providers, depending on buyers' requirement. The former includes Cree, Philips, Epistar and Osram, while ETI and San'an are the usual local sources. The other key materials and components such as substrates and adhesive come from the domestic supply.

Although the cost of manufacturing inputs did not change in the past year, module prices went down by 3 to 5 percent due to intense competition. In the months ahead, quotes will be generally stable.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our market analyst for representing current trends in flip-chip LED modules from mainland China and Taiwan makers.

Flip-chip LED module delivers 1,350 lumens

Hebei Shentong Optoelectronics Technology Co. Ltd's ARE150A100H-6V model is a flip-chip LED module with 1,350-lumen luminous flux and 135 lm/W luminous efficacy. LED power is 10W. The unit has 5.2 to 6.2V forward voltage. Test current is 1,700mA.

The order quantity is negotiable. Delivery takes 7 days.

Inquire Now

2,600 to 7,000K flip-chip LED module

The model FD-4046 flip-chip LED module from Shenzhen Fedy Technology Co. Ltd has 2,600 to 7,000K color temperature, 70 CRI and 130 lm/W luminous efficacy. The emitted color is white and the viewing angle 160 degrees.

The module is 40x46mm and the light emitting area 25x25mm. Based on power rating, there are 50, 60, 80 and 100W variants. The product has CE approval and is RoHS-compliant.

The minimum order is 100 units for delivery within 7 days.

Inquire Now

110 lm/W flip-chip LED module

From Shenzhen Ming Qiang Optoelectronics Co. Ltd, the model 45106-0136 flip-chip LED module holds 36 chips. It has 6,000 to 7,000K and 110 lm/W. The color temperature can be customized.

The 106x45mm product comes in variants with rated voltage of 3, 4 or 12V. The rated power is 7W.

An order of at least 10,000 units is required and delivered in 7 days.

Inquire Now

120W flip-chip LED module

Super Brite Ltd offers the 120WflipchipLEDmodule model, which has more than 14,000 lumens, 3,000 to 6,500K and over 80 CRI. The rated voltage and power are 35V and 120W.
Dimensions are 40x30mm.

The supplier requires a minimum order of 2,000 units. Delivery lead time is 10 days.

Inquire Now