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Hella have formed a strategic partnership with US-based Hubbell Lighting to develop and commercialise non-automotive applications of
Hella’s LED lighting technology in North America.
The two companies intend to form a cross-branding relationship in which Hella will design, develop, and manufacture the LED module (or light engine), while Hubbell will market and distribute the lighting fixture into municipal markets.
Around two years ago, Hella introduced LED street lights in their native Germany. This was followed in July 2010 with the introduction of Hella’s LED street-lighting products in the North American market.
The Hella LED light engine, which is designed for installation into existing “cobra-head” style roadway fixtures, will be manufactured at Hella’s facilities in Flora, Illinois.
The Hella LED module will be integrated into Hubbell’s RM series roadway fixture at the company’s plant in Christiansburg, VA. It will also be marketed as a retrofit kit for existing roadway luminaires.
The 48-LED module consumes 75 watts and produces 5850 lm, for an efficacy of 78 lm/W. The standard color temperature is 4800K; all these figures are substantial improvements over the 150-watt high-pressure sodium and 175-watt mercury lamps the Hella-Hubbell product is designed to replace. It is estimated there is an installed base of 34 million streetlights in place in the US.
Hubbell will manage product marketing and distribution through their global sales network. The companies expect to introduce the new LED product line during the third quarter of 2011. “We see tremendous growth opportunities for LED lighting in North America,” said Steve Lietaert, VP of program management for Hella Electronics Corp. “LED technology offers an energy-efficient, low maintenance alternative to conventional lighting.”
