Business Weekly - Cambridge, UK

Sagentia is now in talks with a number of groups about applying the technology to the film and television production industry and expects to begin work in this area by the end of the year before a fullscale product launch further down the line.

HD LED is a vast improvement on existing lighting technologies because the light it provides doesn't produce unwanted heat as a byproduct; it is also far more energy efficient.

More significantly, however, is that as well as carrying the benefits of high brightness LED (lightemitting diode) technologies - infra-red free cold light, long life, shadow control and energy efficiency - it has solved many of the technical challenges that have faced LEDs including colour rendition, thermal management and cost.

Though running costs of Sagentia's system are significantly lower than those of conventional lighting systems, the unit costs are generally higher.

However, senior consultant on the team behind the technology at Sagentia, Dr Euan Morrison, says the gap is closing, particularly in major surgical applications where existing systems need special production processes.

"Our HD LED is typically two to three times more energy efficient than conventional systems," said Dr Morrison. "It also has lower maintenance costs and a very long life span. A conventional high spec bulb will last 1,000 hours; the HD LED lasts 50,000 hours."

Not only is it the first LED lighting system with near perfect colour rendition across the full visible spectrum, but also it has red balance control - compensation for humans' natural weakness in distinguishing shades of red for optimum visualisation of, for example, red tissues - and fat beam illumination: Big, adjustable light beams with more light across the full width of the illuminated area.

While the technology has applications in a number of other industry sectors, the ability to enhance intensive major surgical situations by producing a natural light without generating heat which can adversely affect the surgeon and dry out tissue, makes the medical arena a principal target.

The lamps for Brandon Medicall, an experienced manufacturer and marketer of medical lighting products, are the first products to feature Sagentia's patented HD LED technology. Brandon will now look at commercialising it on a worldwide scale.

"The application in medical will prove invaluable to both the patients and the surgeon's experience," said Dr Morrison. "It will be applied in three areas: Major surgical, minor surgical and examination.

"However, there are many other applications for this technology where high-quality, low-cost white light could be beneficial and we have interest from a number of manufacturers from the broadcast, arts, architectural and retail industries interested in bringing this technology to more products and the wider lighting industry."

Dr Morrison is responsible for building Sagentia's technology capability in lighting and illumination, particularly in the area of solid state lighting, which currently accounts for between five and 10 per cent of Sagentia's revenues, a figure he believes can increase on the back of the new technology.

Sagentia operates in six global sectors: Medical, industrial products, consumer products, chemicals, materials & energy, telecoms & media and public sector.