This section provides an overview for sodium lamps as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 11 sodium lamp manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked sodium lamp companies as of November, 2024: 1.Shat-R-Shield, Inc., 2.Sylvania, 3.Ushio Germany GmbH.
Table of Contents
Sodium lamps are lamps that emit light through an arc discharge in sodium vapor, which has a high vapor pressure.
Arc discharge is a phenomenon in which plasma is generated and electricity flows in a non-conductive gas. Sodium lamps are characterized by their warm orange light and boast higher luminous efficacy than mercury lamps.
They are also sometimes used for road lighting due to their long life and excellent transmittance performance. However, with the advent of LED lighting, which consumes less power and has a longer life, demand for sodium lamps is declining.
Figure 1. Sodium lamps and visibility
Sodium lamps are often used in roadway, industrial, and commercial lighting applications to save energy. The most famous example is tunnels. Since visibility in tunnels is impaired by exhaust gases and dust, orange-colored sodium lamps, which are less susceptible to these effects, have been used since around the 1960s.
The demand for sodium lamps has been on the decline as regulations on automobile exhaust emissions have been tightened, visibility in tunnels is no longer reduced, and LED lighting has become more widely used. However, because the light from sodium lamps does not easily attract insects due to their nature, they are in high demand as lighting in industries where insect infestation can be a serious problem, such as the food and manufacturing industries.
Sodium lamps are classified into three types according to their vapor pressure: low-pressure, high-pressure, and high-pressure sodium lamps with high color rendering.
Figure 2. Structure of a low-pressure sodium lamp
The pressure of the enclosed sodium vapor is very low, around 0.5 Pa, and contains trace amounts of neon and argon as light emitting aids. It has the longest history among sodium lamps, and its luminous efficiency is up to 180 lm/W, which is higher than LEDs.
However, they also have drawbacks, such as a monochromatic orange light that makes red objects appear black and a short life span.
These lamps have improved the color rendering properties of low pressure sodium lamps and are filled with sodium vapor pressure of 0.1 atm. They contain a small amount of xenon as an auxiliary agent for luminescence, and a special alumina ceramic is used for the light-emitting tube to prevent damage even under high temperature and high pressure conditions. Not only is the color rendering property improved, but the luminous lifetime is also about three times longer.
Compared to high pressure sodium lamps, the vapor pressure of these lamps has been raised to about five times that of high pressure sodium lamps. The color rendering property is greatly improved, resulting in warm lighting similar to that of incandescent lamps.
Although the luminous efficiency is lower than that of other sodium lamps, it is still more than three times more efficient than incandescent lamps.
Figure 3. Emission wavelengths of sodium lamps
Insects are attracted to ultraviolet light. Sodium lamps emit light at a wavelength of only around 590 nm and emit a monochromatic yellow light. In other words, the light is imperceptible to insects, making it difficult for insects to be attracted to the lamps.
Because of their monochromatic emission, sodium lamps are not suitable for use in places where color information is required for visual inspections, but they are suitable for use on farm roads and other places where you do not want to attract insects.
With the discontinuation of mercury lamps, which emit light based on the same principle as sodium lamps, sodium lamps are being replaced by LEDs. However, sodium lamps have several characteristics due to their emission color.
It is important to select lighting that is appropriate for the site where it will be used, rather than simply substituting white LEDs with a focus on energy savings alone. In recent years, LEDs that reproduce the color temperature of sodium lamps have been developed, so such LEDs should also be considered.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
Shat-R-Shield, Inc., founded in 1970 and based in Salisbury, NC, is a manufacturer of safety-coated fluorescent and LED lamps as well as LED fixtures. The company started in the protective lighting industry with the shatter-resistant fluorescent lamps and with the evolution of LED technology, the company created a line of safety coated waterproof LED lamps that can be installed outdoors for landscape lighting, washdown areas, dock lighting or anywhere exposed to harsh and corrosive environments. The company provides specialised lighting products to its core markets of food and beverage, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, wastewater treatment, and many other.
Current, formerly known as GE Current, a Daintree Company, is a manufacturer of LED lighting and intelligent control solutions based in Cleveland, Ohio. Serving commercial, industrial, retail, and municipal markets, the company offers products to enhance energy efficiency through advanced technologies and data analytics. Its product range includes LED lamps offering energy-efficient illumination, LED fixtures with various designs for optimal lighting performance, controls, and sensors for smart lighting systems, and software/services for system optimization. These solutions cater to diverse applications, from general to outdoor lighting, providing customers with efficient and sustainable lighting solutions.
LAPMASTER WOLTERS’s roots go back as far as 1804 with the founding of Peter Wolters. Lapmaster was founded in Chicago in 1948 as a manufacture of lapping and polishing machines for the mechanical seal market, Lapmaster has grown to a worldwide solution provider for more than 20 industries like precision optics and advanced materials. Lapmaster serves many industries including automotive, semiconductor, electro optics, and medical devices. Lapmaster also sells many consumables including abrasive powders, lapping compounds diamond lubricants, and composite plates. Products include lapping, polishing, bore honing, buffing, grinding, and special purpose machines.
Phillips has been a manufacturer of lighting products since 1891 and is headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company is known for its lighting applications with products that include Indoor and outdoor luminaires, LED electronics, lamps, and tubes, along with Conventional lamps and tubes, and lighting controls. Their use expands to offices and industries for lighting indoors, parking lots, healthcare facilities, and public spaces such as airports, parks, plazas, recreational spaces, tunnels, etc. Even the retail and hospitality departments avail the services such as convenience stores along with Horticulture and Aquaculture sectors as well.
Tonhi Lighting, headquartered in Jiangsu, China, has been a manufacturer of lighting solutions since 2012. The company's expertise encompasses lighting solutions tailored for commercial, industrial, institutional, and customized applications. The company maintains multiple operational facilities to ensure efficiency in its operations. In 2016, the company expanded its product range to include LED filament lighting, LED street lighting, and solar lighting solutions. Additionally, the company manufactures low and high-pressure sodium lamps, as well as metal halide lamps, complementing its comprehensive lighting portfolio.
Taizhou Qianshun Tech Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of lighting solutions based in China. Established in 2016, the company has collaborated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences research team. The company aims to provide a brighter future by delivering Low-Pressure Sodium Lamps (SOX Lamps) a globally. As a SOX lamp manufacturer, the company offers a comprehensive range of SOX lamp products, including electronic/inductance ballasts, igniters, and LCD check lamps. Additionally, the company has diversified its product line to address a broader spectrum of lighting needs which includes CPO-TW replacement lamps, horticulture lights, fish attraction lights, and more.
Intertech Lighting Industry Enterprise Ltd. is a manufacturer of lighting solutions and related components based in China. The company was founded in 1995. Its export markets include the USA, Europe, India, South-American and the Middle East. The company's product lineup includes sodium lamps, halogen lamps, mercury lamps, halide lamps, and light bulbs. Additionally, the company's offerings extend beyond lamps to encompass fittings that provide expansive illumination to street illumination fittings. Its product lineup also includes ground uplight fittings for accentuating outdoor spaces and factory lighting fittings that cater to industrial environments.
Sylvania, based in Budapest, Hungary, is a manufacturer of lighting solutions since 1901. The company offers a diverse range of lighting products including indoor lighting, outdoor lighting, lamps, lighting controls, and special lighting for various applications. This array of offerings enables the company to address a wide range of lighting requirements, from energy-efficient solutions to aesthetically pleasing designs. The company caters to several industries including hospitality, logistics & industry, museums & galleries, office, retail, education, and more.
JR Lighting is a manufacturer of lighting solutions and products based in China. The company was founded in 2010 with its headquarters based in Shanghai and a production base in Suzhou. The company has extended its markets across the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, and the domestic market. Its lighting products meet rigorous standards with certifications, including the CCC, CE, TUV, CSA, VDE, SAA, BIS, and UL. Its product lineup includes lamps, LEDs, and accessories designed to illuminate different spaces and environments. From residential settings to commercial establishments, the company offers solutions that combine functionality, aesthetics, and energy efficiency.
Ushio Germany GmbH, based in Germany, is a manufacturer of lighting solutions and technology since 1968. The company was acquired by Ushio Inc., Japan in 1990. Its product portfolio includes lamps, LEDs, lasers, and other advanced light sources. These products cater to diverse applications across industries such as medical & healthcare, industrial manufacturing, entertainment, scientific research, and more. Its collaboration with other Ushio Group companies ensures that its customers have access to a wide network of expertise, support, and resources. This enables them to provide tailored lighting solutions that address challenges faced by its clients.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Shat-R-Shield, Inc. |
17.4%
|
2 | Sylvania |
11.6%
|
3 | Taizhou Qianshun Tech Co, Ltd. |
10.5%
|
4 | Ushio Germany GmbH |
9.3%
|
5 | Tonhi Lighting |
8.1%
|
6 | Intertech Lighting Industry Enterprises Ltd. |
8.1%
|
7 | Lanxi Delphi Lighting Co., Ltd. |
8.1%
|
8 | Signify Holding |
8.1%
|
9 | Lapmaster International, LLC |
7.0%
|
10 | JR Lighting |
5.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the sodium lamp page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
China | 5 | 45.5% |
United States of America | 3 | 27.3% |
Netherlands | 1 | 9.1% |
Hungary | 1 | 9.1% |
Germany | 1 | 9.1% |