Update: the winners of this contest has been announced...

Konica Minolta launched a new flexible OLED lighting design contest titled "Lighting of the Future Award". All concepts will use up to three flexible OLED panels (60 x 150 x 0.5 mm in size with a radius of Curvature of no more than 100 mm). Konica Minolta will give 7 cash prizes (the winner will get ¥500,000, about $6,200).

The top prizes will be given to the designs that will showcase the features of OLED lighting, that can actually be converted to a prototype and that "evoke future possibilities". You have to submit your design by December 3rd, 2012.

Konica Minolta announced that the OLED-010K OLED sample kits they have been offering since October 2011 are now discontinued, and they are offering OLED sample panel sets instead. The new sample panel set includes 5 OLED panels (and does not include a driver box and an AC adapter like the sample kits).

The new sample panel set costs ¥100,000 (about $1,250), and is now shipping. You can order it here.

Konica Minolta has successfully developed a high-accuracy inkjet head capable of 1-picoliter drop size, the first for printed electronics applications. The new print head utlilizes the company's proprietary MEMS technologies for the first time. KM will start offering the new inkjet printhead (the KM128SNG-MB) in sample quantities by this spring.

The new print head is resistant to various inks required for industrial applications and suitable to use with low-viscosity inks. It can be used for all sorts of applications, including OLED display patterning and OLED lighting thin air coating.

Konica Minolta announced plans to splits its LA Business division (who is in charge of OLED lighting and new functional materials) into a new subsidiary which will be called Konica Minolta Opto (KMOT). This split will be effective by April 2012.

KM says that the split will aid their ventures to accelerate OLED lighting commercialization. They hope that this move will also optimize its facilities and staff resources.

Konica Minolta announced a new next-generation lighting brand called Symfos. The first Symfos product is the OLED-010K OLED lighting panel sample kit - which is now shipping. The kit includes four OLED panels, and external driver box and an AC adapter.

The OLED itself uses all phosphorescent emitters (KM is using Universal Display's PHOLED technology) and offers 45 lm/W. This is the same panel that Philips is offering (as the Lumiblade Plus). In fact Philips is producing this panel for Konica Minolta, as was announced in July 2011. We do not know the price of the OLED-010K kit, but Philips is selling each Lumiblade Plus panel for €120.

Back in April, Philips unveiled a new OLED panel called Lumiblade Plus - which is the world's most efficient panel under production (45lm/w). Back then Philips said that the panel was 'developed by Konica Minolta', but wouldn't say more. Today Konica Minolta issued a press release with some more information: it appears that indeed the materials and structure were developed by KM and the production will be handled by Philips. Production will start in autumn 2011.

While I do not understand the cooperation entirely, after talking to KM it seems that both companies will offer the panel for sale. It's not clear whether Philips will pay royalties for KM on each panel, but it might be so. Philips are already accepting orders for the Lumiblade plus (€120, minimum quantity is 100 units) - but KM says that the panels are not shipping yet. We do not know how many the panels Philips is going to make - but perhaps the agreement with KM was part of the decision to expand Philips' OLED capacity.

Update: we got some new information regarding Philips and KM cooperation

Philips unveiled their latest OLED lighting panel, the Lumiblade Plus - which is the world's most efficient panel under production (45lm/w). Currently available in one size (Square Tall White - 7x7cm) the panel was developed by Konica Minolta and is produced by Philips, and features full phosphorescent organic materials. The panel is available for €120 (minimum quantity is 100 units though).

Technical details of this new panel:

• Luminous efficacy: 45 lm/W
• Thickness: 1.8 mm
• Lifetime: 10,000 hours
• Luminance: 1,000 cd/m²
• Current/voltage: 71.5 mA / 3.6 V
• Color coordinates (x; y): 0.45 ; 0.41
• Color temperature: 2,800 K

Mexican design studio Agent has designed a couple of OLED lighting concepts for Konica-Minolta. The first one is called Wearable band of light - 'cool, wrap-on accessories that glow with light and can be worn around your body, matching your personality". The bands are bendable, thin, light and can be curved any way you like. Agent says this is a hybrid of jewelry + safety element + wearable light.

The second design is called Strip Light - a bus stop with illuminated timetables and neighborhood maps. This design also uses flexible OLED panels.

Back in February, Pioneer and Mitsubishi Chemical has announced an OLED Lighting JV. Pioneer will produce OLED lighting panels, Mitsubishi Chemical will supply chemicals and will market and sell the panels through their Verbatim daughter company.

We had the good chance to speak with Verbatim regarding this new OLED business.

Q: Are there any updates on the OLED JV?
Mitsubishi Chemical Corp will start to supply samples at the end of 2010, and mass production in the middle of 2011.

OLEDNet reports the Konica-Minolta plans to start mass production of flexible OLED lighting panels in 2010. Konica-Minolta is cooperating with GE on manufacturing technology. According to the report, Konica Minolta is using polymer materials and printing technologies. The materials are made by Sumitomo. The lifetime of Konica-Minolta’s products is estimated to be 3,000 hours or more with the brightness of 1,000 cd/m2.

We think that this is a bit optimistic... according to KM's own plans, the first plant is scheduled for March 2011. Just last month they re-iterated their plans to start making the flexible OLEDs in 2011, and we do not think this will qualify as 'mass production'. We also know that KM is using UDC's Small-Molecule Phosphorescent materials, but maybe they are also working with Sumitomo on Polymer based OLEDs.