Hella Introduces New Technologies at IAA

LIPPSTADT, Germany, Aug. 31, 2005 -- Hella will showcase a broad spectrum of new electronic, sensor and automotive lighting technologies at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) in Germany (Sept. 15-25).

Hella's exhibit, located at Booth 8.0/D05, will feature a new LED headlamp with dynamic LED cornering lights; an electronic parking-assistant system; a concealed rain-and-light sensor; inductive-switching interior lamps, and rear- lighting technologies such as an LED light curtain and 3D light guides.

Optical and lighting innovations being introduced by Hella at the IAA include a prototype LED headlamp with a dynamic cornering light without mechanical components. The lamp's LEDs are electronically triggered and scatter light with the aid of specially designed Cartoval plastic lenses.

The new dynamic cornering light is housed in the headlamp as a separate module in the lower part of the front bumper. Four Cartoval plastic lenses arranged next to one another are aligned in different directions. Different switch-on algorithms can be realized using electronic controls. For example, each of the four elements can be switched on or dimmed depending on speed and steering angle.

For the prototype, Hella is using both standard LEDs and LED assemblies developed in cooperation with Stanley for use in automotive applications. The LED arrays direct light onto the road with the aid of different optical systems. Five solid plastic-lens modules arranged next to one another in the upper part of the headlamp produce the low beam. Two additional modules positioned vertically on the outside of the headlamp form the high beam. There also are two standard LEDs behind small rectangular plastic optic elements between the two high-beam modules. These, together with dimmed high- beam modules, produce a daytime running light.

The new LED headlamps being developed by Hella and Stanley are expected to provide light output equal to Xenon headlamps and will be available by 2008.

Hella's "light curtain," being shown for the first time as a position light in a headlamp display at the Frankfurt Motor Show, is based on advanced LED technology. Light from several concealed LEDs is guided to a plastic plate and the reflection is evenly distributed. Light-scattering elements on the plate direct the light and produce the effect of a homogenously illuminated surface.

The direction indicator with seven standard LEDs is arranged behind the light curtain to produce an individual appearance when switched on together with the position light. A variety of brand-specific and individual customer- specific designs can be achieved through different LED arrangements.

The company also will display a unique front-end module developed by HBPO -- a Hella joint venture with Behr and Plastic Omnium. Described as a "front end for the future," the HBPO module weighs less, has fewer components and helps solve stringent new pedestrian-protection standards.

HBPO's new front-end module incorporates SFuse (Several Function Stiffener) to help protect pedestrians from being run over. A plastic component on the lower part of the front end makes the body turn, so that it glides away and over the hood instead of falling under the vehicle. SFuse, as a second load path, also absorbs approximately 30 percent of the impact energy.

"This philosophy integrates even more functions while using fewer components and reducing weight," says Martin Schueler, CEO of the HBPO joint venture. "It also shows ways to intelligently solve more stringent pedestrian-protection requirements."

The new front-end technology also can include air routing for braking and engine cooling. Compared with other simple metal components currently in use, SFuse can reduce the weight of these components by 25 percent and cut assembly time by 40 percent. SFuse easily meets the increased requirements for lower- leg impact to satisfy Phase 2 of the European Directive 2004/102/EC for pedestrian protection, taking effect in 2010.

For the European aftermarket, Hella also will unveil a bend-lighting system -- DynaView Evo2 -- that is the first aftermarket cornering-lamp system in the world that switches on in combination with a vehicle's low-beam headlamps. The system combines the safety functions of a cornering light and fog light in a compact, round auxiliary headlamp.

Lighting, electronics, complete vehicle modules, air-conditioning systems, vehicle-wiring systems and signal processing for the automobile industry, as well as automotive aftermarket components, are the core fields of competency for automotive supplier Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. Sales for the Hella Group are approximately $3.9 billion, placing Hella among Germany's top 100 industrial companies.

With its corporate headquarters in Lippstadt, Germany, the company employs nearly 24,000 people at 65 manufacturing facilities, production subsidiaries and joint-venture companies in 18 countries. More than 2,000 engineers and technicians work in research and development. Hella supplies all of the world's leading automobile and systems manufacturers as well as the automotive components aftermarket.