March 1, 2026, 11:44 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Almost everyone knows the brand with the bright orange letters on the light bulb packaging. However, few probably know that Osram no longer manufactures lighting products. A story of the transformation of a company and one of the most well-known brands.
In East Germany, there were light bulbs under the “Narva” brand, while in the Federal Republic, “Osram” became ingrained in the collective memory. The distinctive logo with the light bulb and the typical orange lettering undoubtedly contributed to this. The brand and the lighting products still exist, but under a different company. myHOMEBOOK took a closer look at the company’s history.
From Three Giants to a Global Brand
The Osram brand was born in 1906. The “Deutsche Gasglühlicht-Anstalt” registered the brand with the Imperial Patent Office. Osram combines the words osmium and tungsten, two metals used in the filaments of the bulbs.
In 1919, the brand also became a company. Three firms combined their light bulb production into the new Osram GmbH: AEG, Siemens & Halske, and “Deutsche Gasglühlicht.” The merger was likely intended to strengthen the companies’ and their products’ position in the world market, which was slowly recovering after World War I. German-made light bulbs successfully captured market share, and within a few years, the company opened its first branches in Europe.
Pioneering Spirit from Filament to LED
Osram has introduced several innovations in the field of lighting products. In 1925, the company developed the “Bilux.” The car headlight combined high and low beams in a single source, which was a true technical revolution. The company also pioneered halogen technology in the 1960s, which quickly became the standard for car headlights. The development of xenon headlights allowed for new designs in headlights.
Innovative lighting products have always required innovations in manufacturing. Automatic tube drawing machines, for example, allowed for the quick and cost-effective production of glass tubes and rods as precursors for actual lamp manufacturing.
What You Should Know About the Company Telefunken
Siemens and Bosch Unveil Innovations at IFA 2025
From Lighting Products to Semiconductor Specialist
A turning point in Osram’s history was the acquisition of the LED division from its then-parent company Siemens. This move marked Osram’s entry into the semiconductor business. In 2013, Osram separated and went public. Seven years later, Osram completely exited the business of LED, halogen, and energy-saving lamps for private customers. Under the name Ledvance, a Chinese consortium took over the product division that most people still associate with Osram today.
The history of the “new” Osram has been economically volatile and crisis-ridden. The fact is that Osram is now a semiconductor manufacturer, selling light emitters, sensors, and CMOS chips to the automotive and medical industries.
The Brand Lives On–But Elsewhere
Osram lighting products are still available in stores. Osram and its sister brand Sylvania are used under license by Ledvance. The products still enjoy a good reputation and are popular. However, they only share the name with the original company.