Hella have received another major customer order for their innovative FlatLight signal lamps. But this order’s different: for the first time, Hella will apply this technology—initially designed as a stop/taillight—to front lighting.
From mid-2025, Hella will supply FlatLight DRLs for five of an international premium automaker’s models. The FlatLight technology will celebrate its world premiere as early as 2024, when it will go into series production for the first time as a rear combination lamp. Hella lighting managing director Yves Andres says “Our FlatLight technology is primarily about a slim design, the greatest possible energy efficiency as well as superior homogeneity and performance—and not just for rear combination lamps”.
FlatLight is based on microoptics. These are extremely small optics, less than 15 µm, and are thus significantly smaller than a grain of salt. On this basis, both the weight of the light module can be decreased, and its installation space requirement can be reduced down to 5 mm. In contrast, conventional DRLs usually require a depth of around 40 mm. At the same time, the FlatLight allows for numerous new possibilities in terms of vehicle and lighting design. DRL, front position light, and direction indicator functions can be implemented in just one single light element. The FlatLight technology also achieves a previously unattained homogeneity at the highest possible cost and energy efficiency. This means that the appearance of the daytime running light is particularly uniform while at the same time being highly efficient.
