Lighting specialist, OSRAM, reminds workshops and factors to focus on bulb sales this winter, especially as the component is more likely to fail in colder temperatures. With more than 110 years in the automotive sector, Osram highlights why bulbs are more likely to fail in winter and why factors and workshops should be informing their customers of these facts, so pre-empting bulb failure and improving their bulb sales.
Andy Gratton has been promoted to managing director at Ring Automotive, the UK subsidiary of ams OSRAM. He takes over from Theresa Spencer who leaves the company at the end of August 2023, to pursue a new challenge outside the automotive aftermarket. Gratton is currently Ring’s financial director and formally assumed the MD role as of 1 July. Theresa Spencer will remain in the business until 31 August to support the hand-over process.
As bulbs are becoming more difficult for drivers to change themselves because engine bays are now more compact, they are turning to workshops and fast fit centres to assist them in this once simple task. This development also provides workshops with the opportunity to upsell lighting products by combining their expert knowledge with the driver’s preferences and driving style to recommend the most appropriate replacement. Technicians can also advise customers to replace both bulbs at the same time following best practice and creating more profit margin for the workshop. Lighting specialist Hella has issued its tips to help technicians upsell.
Automotive suppliers Hella and Plastic Omnium are entering into a strategic cooperation, with the focus of the non-exclusive cooperation to accelerate the holistic integration of exterior vehicle lighting technologies, especially for the front and rear areas. Hella contributes to the collaboration through its competence in automotive lighting technology, while Plastic Omnium brings the expertise in plastics processing for exterior body parts. The plan is to also bundle the corresponding development resources together at one site in Germany.
Following the recent reports that drivers are confused by daytime running lights (DRL’s) and what the legal requirement is for them being fitted to vehicles, Philips, inventor of the Daylight Xenon HID daytime running lights sheds some light.
Andy Savva, The Garage Inspector, has been involved in the automotive industry for over 32 years having owned and managed some of the most successful independent garages in the UK.
Together with the vehicle manufacturer Audi, Hella has developed a striking lighting technology for the new Audi A7 Sportback, the headlamps for which are available as LED, Matrix LED and HD Matrix LED with laser high beam variants. The system uses a new control unit, which takes care of all of the lighting functions and in addition, Audi and Hella have also developed a new interior lighting concept.
Why change in pairs? An old lamp deteriorates fast, and if one bulb fails the second will probably fail shortly after. It’s a smarter, more convenient and more economic approach to maintenance, two new lamps are brighter so you see further and get a balanced view of the road.
The latest generation Volkswagen Touareg, which has just had its world premiere in China, features one of the most powerful lighting systems on the market – the LED Matrix Headlamp, jointly developed by Hella and Volkswagen. Volkswagen will offer the innovative lighting system for the new luxury class SUV, under the ‘IQ.LIGHT – LED Matrix Headlamps’ designation.
Lumileds has launched the new Philips EcoPro range of LED work lights. Equipped with high-quality LEDs and hands-free features, the EcoPro range also provides the powerful bright light (6,500 K) needed to get the job done, making the lamps perfect for everyday use in automotive workshops.
To give technicians clear vision in the workshop, Philips has introduced the CBH51 LED hybrid professional bonnet lamp. It features 32 powerful LEDs, providing an intense, 6000-K natural white light source and bright wide beam that defeats darkness, but to prevent fatigue, is also gentle on the eyes.
ZF and Hella are entering into a strategic partnership. The automotive suppliers say they will benefit from cooperation on “sensor technology, particularly for front camera systems, imaging and radar systems”. ZF will further strengthen its portfolio as a systems supplier which offers both modern assistance systems and autonomous driving functions, whereas Hella will drive technological development and benefits from a broader market access. The first joint development project in camera technology will start immediately, with the objective of a market launch in 2020.
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