Recently, automotive lighting manufacturer FORVIA HELLA announced that its innovative FlatLight technology, characterized by high efficiency, lightweight design, and cost optimization, has been officially put into mass production in the headlight field, becoming a new generation of daytime running light (DRL) solutions.
FlatLight daytime running lights (Image credit: Freya Hella)
FlatLight is an innovative lighting solution developed by Freya Hella based on a micro-optical light guide structure, which mainly uses μMX micro-optical light guide technology.
Unlike traditional lighting fixtures that refract light through large reflectors or lenses, FlatLight employs millions of microlens structures, each only a few micrometers in size. These microlenses precisely control the direction of light propagation, achieving uniform and high-brightness lighting effects, as well as an ultra-thin, efficient, and lightweight lighting design.
According to Freya Hella, compared to traditional daytime running lights, the FlatLight module is only about 5 millimeters thick, reducing installation space by 80%, energy consumption by 40%, and weight by 80%. It can integrate multiple functions such as daytime running lights and turn signals into a single module, and supports personalized dynamic lighting animations, combining energy efficiency with design flexibility.
In 2024, FlatLight technology was first used in vehicle taillight systems and entered mass production. This newly launched headlight version further expands the commercial application of this technology.
Currently, FlatLight's technology solutions have been incorporated into multiple customer projects, with cumulative orders amounting to hundreds of millions of euros. Product manufacturing is handled by Freia Hella's lighting factories in Kočovce and Banovce, Slovakia, module development is completed at the company's headquarters in Lippstadt, Germany, and customized designs for different customers are carried out in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Mohelnice, and Ostrava, Czech Republic.
Dr. Michael Kleinkes, Global Head of Lighting Development at Freya Hella, stated: "The trend towards smaller, more efficient, and higher-quality miniaturized automotive lighting is accelerating. The mass production experience of FlatLight technology in taillights has laid the foundation for the company's entry into headlight applications."
It's worth noting that earlier this year, Freya Hella also established a strategic partnership with the US startup BrightView Technologies to jointly develop specialized optical films based on micro-optics and nano-optics, aiming to create lighter, more efficient, and cost-effective lighting solutions. The jointly developed optical films will be gradually applied to all FlatLight series projects. (Compiled)
