Amidst the global wave of energy conservation, emission reduction, and smart city construction, LED street lighting have evolved from an emerging technology into the mainstream of modern road lighting.
70% of our customers choose the OEM collaboration method, producing according to customer drawings, while 30% of our customers utilize our design and manufacturing services.
For buyers of LED lighting components, choosing the appropriate LED street light component manufacturing collaboration method is the first step.
This article will delve into the differences and advantages of OEM and ODM collaboration models, providing professional advice to customers.
Part 1: Understanding Modern LED Street Lights
LED street light, short for Light Emitting Diode Street Light, is a road lighting device that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the core light source.
Compared to traditional high-pressure sodium lamps or metal halide lamps, LED light street lights can save 50%-70% of energy due to their unidirectional lighting, and have an ultra-long service life, making them a core component of modern smart cities and road lighting upgrades.
LED street lights have 4 core advantages:
• High efficiency and energy saving, significantly reducing operating costs;
• Ultra-long lifespan, greatly reducing maintenance pressure;
• Excellent light quality, improving safety and comfort;
• Green, environmentally friendly, and intelligent connectivity.
A high-performance, long-life LED street light is like a precisely coordinated team, mainly relying on the following core components:
1. LED Light Source Module (Lighting Core): This is the "heart" of the street light, usually formed by directly encapsulating LED chips on a substrate, including:
LED Chip: The source of light. The chip’s brand, size, and manufacturing process determine the basic luminous efficiency and light decay characteristics. The higher the luminous efficiency, the more energy-efficient and brighter the LED light.
Light decay is inevitable, but a lamp with good heat dissipation can generally last a long time without significant dimming.
[Luminous efficiency (lm/W) = Luminous flux (lm) ÷ Power (W)]
[Light decay = (Initial luminous flux - Luminous flux after a period of time) ÷ Initial luminous flux × 100%]
Our other blog post: Why Choose High-power COB LED?
LED PCB Board: Usually an aluminum substrate, responsible for carrying the chips and rapidly conducting heat, ensuring that the LED chips operate at a lower temperature. Its design directly affects heat dissipation and lifespan.
Our other blog post: Guide to LED PCB Board: from Design to Customization
LED PCBs’ Complete Manufacturing Process
LED Optical Lens: Performs secondary light distribution on the light emitted by the LED chip, shaping a light spot that meets road requirements, reducing glare, and improving light utilization and uniformity.
Our other blog post: Custom LED Lenses Manufacturer: One-stop Service for Your Projects
2. LED Driver (Energy Hub): Converts AC mains power into the constant DC power required by the LED, protecting the LED from current fluctuations and directly determining the lifespan of the entire lamp.
3. LED Heat Sink (Cooling System): Mostly made of aluminum alloy, it increases the contact area with air through a scientifically designed fin structure, continuously dissipating the heat generated by the chip, ensuring that the LED chip operates at a safe temperature.
4. Housing (Sturdy Armor): Provides IP65 and above dust-proof and waterproof protection, ensuring that LED luminaires can adapt to outdoor environments.
[The IP protection rating is an important international standard for measuring the protection ability of electrical equipment (such as LED lights) enclosures against solid foreign objects and liquid ingress, which is what we commonly call the "dustproof and waterproof rating". IP stands for "Ingress Protection".]
Regarding led light's lifespan, the commonly mentioned 50,000 hours or more in the industry is based on the "L70" standard (i.e., the luminous flux maintenance rate is not less than 70%), usually the "theoretical lifespan" measured under ideal laboratory conditions.
The true led street light lifespan depends on the weakest link in the system; therefore, excellent heat dissipation design and reliable power supply are key to fulfilling the promise of a long lifespan.
Part 2: Clarifying Cooperation Models: OEM and ODM
After clarifying the cooperation needs and product requirements for LED lighting components, choosing the manufacturing cooperation model becomes a key strategic decision.
What do we mean by OEM and ODM?
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, which is contract manufacturing, or private label manufacturing.
Product design, technical patents, etc., belong to the brand owner, and the OEM factory usually cannot produce products with the same design for other customers.
Workflow:
1. The brand owner (client) independently completes product research and development, design, and core technology.
2. The brand owner finds an OEM factory with production capabilities.
3. The brand owner provides the factory with detailed design drawings, technical specifications, and even core components.
4. The OEM factory strictly follows the requirements for procurement, assembly, and production.
5. The manufactured products are labeled with the brand owner's trademark and sold by the brand owner.
ODM stands for Original Design Manufacturer. The original design and related technologies of the product usually belong to the ODM manufacturer.
The same design may be slightly modified and provided to multiple different brand owners.
For example, many unbranded home appliances and small commodities in supermarkets are directly purchased as ODM products and rebranded.
Workflow:
1. The ODM manufacturer independently conducts market research, product development, and design, launching a series of mature "standard" products or solutions.
2. The brand owner (client) selects a product from the ODM manufacturer's existing product solutions that basically meets their needs.
3. The brand owner may propose some localized modification requirements (such as changing the appearance color, logo position, adjusting certain functional parameters, etc.).
4. The ODM manufacturer completes the modifications and production.
5. The manufactured products are labeled with the brand owner's trademark and sold by the brand owner.
Let's use building a house as an example:
OEM model: Like "building according to blueprints." You are the owner and architect, providing detailed product design drawings. The manufacturer acts as the contractor, strictly producing according to the drawings.
The core is "I design, you manufacture."
ODM model: Like "commissioning design and construction." You propose functional, performance, and cost requirements. The manufacturer acts as the general contractor, providing a full chain of services from design and development to production.
The core is "You design, you manufacture, I rebrand."
Sometimes we also hear about OBM, which stands for Original Brand Manufacturer.
This means a company designs, manufactures, and sells products under its own brand, such as most of Samsung and Sony's products. This is the most complete model in the industry chain.
Nowadays, flexible hybrid models are becoming increasingly popular: using OEM for flagship products to create uniqueness, and using ODM for complementary product lines to pursue efficiency. Or the brand owner proposes the core concept and collaborates with ODM manufacturers for joint development.
Part 3: The Path to Integration: How Sunshineopto Empowers Your Project
Whether you choose OEM or ODM, the underlying logic of success lies in whether your partner possesses a deep understanding of LED core components.
This is the value of Sunshineopto – we are not just a suppiler or wholesaler, but also an engineering partner that can enhance your strategy.
For "architects" who choose OEM:
We are the best implementer and consultant for your technical blueprint. We ensure the precision manufacturing of your customized optical lenses and PCB boards.
More importantly, based on over 16 years of optical and thermal design experience, we can review and optimize your design from the perspectives of manufacturability, reliability, and cost, enhancing product competitiveness while remaining true to your creative vision.
For "owners" who choose ODM:
We are your efficient one-stop solution library and general contractor. You can flexibly choose from our rich and market-proven LED modules, LED PCBs, LED Lens and complete solutions.
We can also quickly customize based on mature platforms, finding the best balance between efficiency and uniqueness to help you respond quickly to the market.
Part 4: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: For a new brand, do you recommend starting with OEM or ODM?
A: This depends on your primary goals. ODM is usually a faster and more economical option, allowing you to launch mature products without upfront R&D investment. Once your brand is established, you can then create differentiated products through OEM.
Q2: How many lens molds do you have?
A: We have extensive engineering experience and over 3000 LED lens molds for you to choose from. Our mold opening fees are also more cost-effective compared to our competitors.
Q3: What is the minimum order quantity?
A: We also handle small orders (around ten pieces) of lenses or LED light boards, but there will be a certain setup fee or engineering fee. We can discuss the specifics.
Q4: How do you ensure product quality and reliability?
A: Quality stems from design and process control. We perform 100% electrical testing, and our products comply with international standards such as CE, RoHS, and IEC. Our 16 years of optical design experience guarantees product reliability from the source.
Q5: What technical support do you provide?
We provide optical design and testing, optical distribution design, electrical and circuit design (how to match the appropriate power supply). We also provide optical design for complete lighting fixtures.
Q6: Do you support adding logos to the products?
A: Yes, we provide this service.
If you still have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to collaborating with you!
Hot-sale products:
50w led street light module 3030 PC
Customizable100 watt led street light modules
150w led street light components 3030 for road lamp
led street light retrofit kits 70*3030SMD150w 200w array lens