News Article
Intematix phosphors invigorate LEDs
With $16.2 million in funding the firm is expanding its capabilities to better address the LED market needs with its phosphor products which it says improve LED light quality
Intematix, an innovator of patented phosphors and phosphor components for LED lighting, has received $16.2 million in funding.
The cash has come from current investors Draper Fisher Jurvetson and Crosslink Capital, as well as a new financial investor.
The company plans to use the latest round of investment to continue tackling challenges for the LED industry. Intematix hopes to expand its facilities and working capital and development of its phosphor products and ChromaLit remote phosphor products.
“LED technology is the future of lighting, and Intematix phosphors and remote phosphors are key components to making this possible,” says Maurice Carson, Chief Financial Officer for Intematix. “This investment further enables Intematix to continue its growth trajectory as it addresses the light quality needs required by the general lighting and display markets.”
While lighting LEDs have grown in efficiency, they have faced challenges in colour quality and thermal management in small form-factors. Intematix says its phosphors enable white light comparable to conventional sources and ChromaLit remote phosphor systems have shown more efficient cooling leading to compact light bulb solutions.
“Intematix is a key provider of the light quality needed for general adoption of LEDs in lighting,” comments Alain Harrus, board member of Intematix and partner at Crosslink Capital. “Intematix is extremely well positioned to advance solid-state lighting technology across the world, and to benefit from the current intense market focus on quality of light.”
Intematix reckons that many people do not know that phosphor is "the magic ingredient" that makes LED lighting possible. It turns the unattractive blue light produced by an LED into a broad spectrum of warm light hues that are more appealing to consumers.
The new Intematix investment comes on the heels of the company’s expansion into the Chinese market, with a new factory and prestigious awards from a top Chinese market research firm and lighting organisation announced last month.
Intematix’s growth as a company and focus on China points to a larger trend in the industry. China is producing a third of the world’s LEDs at a growth rate of 18 % and Intematix is one of the key suppliers that makes phosphor materials so important in the industry.
