Although it began nearly 20 years of development in the late 1980s, mainland China' s electronic-ballast industry has really begun to make impressive progress over the past three or four years, when exports, led by reactor-type ballasts, have more than doubled.

As the heart of fluorescent and energy-saving lamps, the electronic-type ballasts
began being used in mainland China-made lamps in big way in the late 1980s. Gong Liuzhong, an official at a mainland Chinese lighting manufacturer, points out that the domestic market remains the major outlet for electronics ballasts made in China, despite a recent growth in exports.

"The exports have been hampered by complicated applications for safety certificates in the export markets. Besides, China' s domestic market is more profitable than the overseas markets, " Gong explains.

Gong notes that Taiwanese-made products account for a considerable portion of the mainland' s exports, but this is changing as more and more mainland Chinese suppliers reach a quality level similar to that of the Taiwanese manufacturers. His company, Dongguan Hopestar Electronic Co., Ltd., counts itself among the mainland Chinese suppliers.

Opened in 2000, Gong' s company manufactures various lighting components including ballasts for fluorescent lamps, transformers, LED-lamp drivers, ballasts for high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, and dimmers.

The company' s electronic ballasts for fluorescent lamps come in power specifications ranging from eight to 56 watts. The ballasts are power-conserving products ideal for various fluorescent lamps. Dongguan Hopestar dimmers come in specifications ranging from 25 to 2, 500 watts and are available in various designs including switched, touch-activated, and remotely controlled models. The company' s transformers are mostly for 12V halogen lamps and have power specifications ranging from 10 to 250 watts. Dongguan Hopestar' s LED-lamp drivers are powered by less than 10 watts and come with short-circuit protection and current-stabilizing designs. The company' s HID-lamp ballasts come in power specifications ranging from 20 to 500 watts, are programmable, and are designed to prevent malfunctions.

The company acquired ISO 9001 approval in 2001 and its products have been awarded VDE, TUV, EMC, UL, CUL, and FCC safety certificates, as well as approvals for freedom from electromagnetic interference.
Gong also stresses that all of his company' s production lines, equipment, and raw materials are compliant with the RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substance) directive. Dongguan Hopestar currently runs five RoHS-compliant plug-in device production lines and three lines for RoHS-compliant surface mounting devices (SMDs).

Gong says his company mostly ships products to Germany, France, Australia, and North America, with Europe absorbing 80% of its total exports. He estimates that his company' s exports will double to RMB 20 million (US$2.4 million at US$1:RMB8.2) this year from last year' s RMB10 million (US$1.2 million). "We project our export growth to maintain this doubled pace over the next few years, " he says.

He says his company has pursued energy-conserving and environmentally friendly ideas in making its products, which promise durability, power savings, and lighting efficiency.

Dongguan Hopestar is capable of doing R&D thanks to its army of 30 engineers, around one tenth of its workforce. Gong says his company will put a great deal of effort into LED-lamp drivers and HID-lamp electronic ballasts in the future to keep up with market needs and also keep his company ahead of competitors.

Eastern Is the Power Behind a New Trend in Ballasts

Eastern Power Enterprise Ltd. Is a Taiwanese-held lighting manufacturer that opened in Guangzhou in 1995. The company specializes in electronic ballasts and cabinet lamps, with the former earning 70% of all revenue.

Eastern' s ballasts are specifically designed for T4, T5, T8, and T12 fluorescent tubes, spiral fluorescent lamps, and PL compact fluorescent lamps. All of them have received UL, CE, and FCC approvals, and more than 80% of the company' s products go to the U.S., with Canada absorbing the remaining portion.

According to Eastern' s sales manager, Susan Tsai, the company has targeted the U.S. as its major market since it was established, and it has learned a great deal about customer tastes there. Less expensive production costs in mainland China also make the company' s products very competitive in U.S.

The company' s R&D team is composed of specialists from Taiwan and the mainland, a combination that helps to make Eastern' s product designs more versatile and marketable, according to Tsai.

Tsai stresses that power conservation has emerged as the primary focus in the lighting industry, and saving energy has become her company' s guiding principle for product development. "We will continue enhancing the power-conservation features of our products in the near future, and also further shrink their sizes so that we can introduce more refined products, " she says.

Opened in 1987 in Foshan of Guangdong Province by Hong Kong investors, Gedi Electronic Co., Ltd. Began business by producing power-saving halogen lamps. In 2000, it shifted to the production of lighting parts including electronic ballasts, electronic transformers, dimmers, sensors, and auto scanners. The company received ISO 9001:2000 certification in 2002, and its products have been confirmed as complying with VDE, TUV, SAA, GS, CE, EMC and LVD standards, allowing them to be sold in most of the world' s major lighting markets.

For the time being, Russia, Australia, and Europe are the company' s major export destinations, with Russia absorbing nearly 50% of its total exports. The company' s sales manager, Sean Liu, boasts: "In our customers' words, 'our products are discovered even in the Grand Kremlin Palace.' "

Liu says his company believes quality is the first and foremost factor determining corporate survival and development. "We never lure customers with low prices. We make middle-range and high-end products and most of our orders come from long-term customers. Our customers really appreciate our quality and are willing to set up long-lasting business ties with us, " Liu states.

According to Liu, Gedi' s products are noted for their stability. "Good quality is always associated with thorough control of every production element, including raw materials acquisition. That is why my company insists on examination and testing from A to Z, " he says. His company is well equipped with various inspection instruments including oscillographs, dynamometers, precise cymometers, high frequency electric parameter test sets, pressure-proofing testers, computerized acceleration testers, and an EMC testing room. Some 10 engineers operate the test equipment to detect shortcomings in products before they are delivered.

Gedi' s sound examination capability is accompanied by the company' s determination to put out products that are compliant with environmental protection requirements throughout the world. In March of last year, the company installed a complete lead-free auto-soldering system at its factory, and has since demanded that raw material dealers deliver only RoHS-compliant products.

Based on its determination to make a full range of products, the company has never stopped developing new items that conserve power and are environmentally friendly.
One Gedi product that has these advantages is its electronic ballast for HID lamps. The power factor value of these ballasts is higher than 95%, making them excellent for saving power. Compared with reactor-type ballasts operating under the same conditions, the HID ballasts can save 30% more electrical power, Liu reports.