2014-08-25

Monday Roundup: Secure It

This week: rumors of a jump in Chinese import tariffs for LEDs, China exporting more LEDs to Russia, and paying attention to security in smart city controls.

Designing security into smart city control networks
Legacy industrial controllers operating on SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) software are notoriously insecure -- researchers now regularly turn up new vulnerabilities, and bad actors are writing malware that targets SCADA devices. Those advocating smart-city infrastructure, including controls for outdoor lighting, are acutely aware of this legacy and are determined to design smart cities that are secure from hacking. So says C.J. Boguszewski, smart cities lead at Silver Spring Networks, interviewed in CSO Magazine.

"You can imagine that when your smart-lighting network is connected up some 14 year old may decide to try to light them up to be seen from space. We have the ability to ensure that any damage from those types of attacks is limited," Boguszewski said.

Data to justify lighting controls
Looking to install lighting controls but need to prove to management that the project will save money? Lutron has just the ticket: It will loan you data loggers, which, in three or four weeks, should provide ample evidence of the potential savings your particular installation could realize.

The "HOBO" data loggers are manufactured by Onset Computer. They are the size of match boxes and are battery-powered. It takes minutes to install them, and then you can download data on light levels and occupancy at any time.

To be approved for the program, you will have to contact a Lutron sales rep, set up a customer account, and outline the project and the number of data loggers you will need.

China to raise import tariffs on LEDs?
Rumors surfaced last week in Taiwan that China is considering bumping the import tariff it charges on LED components from 4% to 10%. If this came to pass, the largest impact would be felt by Taiwanese LED makers.

In the wake of the rumors, stock prices of several Taiwanese manufacturing concerns dipped (Epistar, Forepi, and GPI), while those of some Chinese makers rose (Juefei Optoelectronics, HC Semitek, and Leyard). Higher Chinese tariffs would also affect those US and European LED manufacturers that sell to Chinese packagers and lamp and luminaire makers.

Taiwanese LED makers responded that they had received no notification from Chinese authorities; representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce also denied the rumors. But according to LEDInside.com, "The ministry is not involved in changing tariff policies, which are decided by The Central People's Government before being implemented by China's General Administration of Customs."

Russian imports of Chinese LEDs booming
Russia has jumped to the No. 2 spot in the list of destinations for Chinese-made LEDs, after India. Chinese exports to Russia jumped 260% from 2012 to 2013, and 571% in the first half of 2014, compared to the same period in 2013.

And a report out of a Russian lighting conference claims that that country is encouraging China to set up LED manufacturing operations on its soil.

— Keith Dawson , Editor-in-Chief, All LED Lighting