| Energy efficient lighting pioneer BluGlass Ltd has signed a sales and distribution agreement with Itochu Plastics Inc. (CIPS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japanese trading company Itochu Corp. CIPS has won the sole rights to market BluGlass’s unique Australian-bred LED manufacturing technology in Japan.
The BluGlass technology allows the production of gallium nitride (GaN)-based semiconductor wafers considerably cheaper than existing processes. GaN-based wafers are used in high performance LED general lighting devices for use in homes, offices and factories that are more energy efficient than traditional incandescent or fluorescent bulbs and tubes.
Executives from CIPS visited BluGlass’s pilot manufacturing plant in late December before the distribution deal was signed.
BluGlass CEO Giles Bourne said the company will be seeking to set up similar agreements in different markets around the world. He said that it indicated that the company was progressing well on its long-stated plan to commercialize the GaN technology, which was developed by scientists at Sydney’s Macquarie University.
“Our ultimate plan is to sell our semiconductor manufacturing equipment to the Japanese market through Itochu,” Bourne added. “That would involve payments for the plant equipment and also ongoing licensing fees. We are also hoping to negotiate strategic collaborations with Japanese corporations so that we can further develop uses for our technology.” | 
