Ron Mertens, a software engineer turned OLED evangelist, has been leading the conversation on Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED) since 2004. Through his platform, OLED-Info.com, Mertens has dedicated himself to educating the public and professionals on the incredible potential of OLED technology for displays and lighting applications.
How OLED Began
The origins of OLED trace back to the 1950s, when researchers discovered organic materials could emit light. But it wasn't until 1987 that Eastman Kodak scientists Ching W. Tang and Steven Van Slyke developed the first functional OLED. Kodak eventually sold its OLED division to LG in 2010 for $100 million, marking a major shift in the commercialization of the technology.
Ron’s Journey into OLED
Mertens became fascinated by OLED in the late 1990s after reading about the possibility of using flexible OLED panels to make military tanks “invisible.” By 2004, he launched OLED-Info.com as a side project, which eventually became his full-time venture. "OLEDs are fascinating because they offer not just better displays, but a fundamentally new way to think about light," Mertens explains.
Why the OLED Handbook Matters
Ron’s OLED Handbook has become a go-to resource for engineers, lighting designers, and technology enthusiasts. “It summarizes everything I’ve learned about OLEDs—how they work, who’s producing them, and how they’ll impact lighting and displays in the years to come,” he says. The guide covers OLED displays and OLED lighting applications in detail.
Is OLED Lighting a Hot Technology?
OLED displays are already mainstream in smartphones and TVs—thanks to giants like Samsung and LG—but lighting is still in its infancy. “The OLED lighting market is very small today—around $100 million annually,” Mertens notes. Most installations are in high-end commercial applications, like Audi’s OLED conference rooms.
Where OLED Lighting Shines
OLEDs are flat, diffused, and flexible—making them ideal for:
- Architectural lighting
- Commercial and residential interiors
- Automotive applications
- Custom lighting designs
“They’re not point lights like LEDs. OLEDs emit soft, beautiful light across a wide area and can be transparent, flexible, or color-tunable,” he adds.
OLED vs. Traditional Lighting
Compared to LEDs and fluorescents, OLED panels provide superior CRI (Color Rendering Index), even illumination, and design flexibility. However, they’re still expensive and not yet practical for general use.
Who’s Making OLED Lighting Today?
Companies like LG Chem, OSRAM, and Philips have OLED panels available now—though they remain niche products. “LG currently makes the largest panel—320x320 mm—and they’re the only company offering flexible OLED lighting,” Mertens says. High-end lighting brands such as Acuity Brands are also starting to integrate OLEDs into designer luminaires.
What Should Contractors & Designers Know?
“We’re still 2–3 years out from OLED lighting being cost-competitive with LED or CFL,” Mertens cautions. “But this is a technology to watch. The freedom of design, sustainability, and light quality could make OLED a dominant lighting solution in the future.”
Learn More
To learn more about OLED lighting, check out Ron’s Introduction to OLED Lighting or download the OLED Handbook.