Improved LEDs bring increased applications for auxiliary lighting

Forecasters at TechNavio, a global research and advisory company, anticipate that the overall worldwide automotive LED marketplace – which combines OEM factory fitments with aftermarket installations – will annually expand by nearly 28 percent through 2018.

“LED lights consume lower power, have a longer lifespan and greater shock resistance,” according to a report prepared by the company. “The global automotive LED lighting market is currently undergoing a radical change, fueled by falling prices of raw materials, exponential vehicle production and a drive toward greater energy efficiency.”

Vehicle owners and industry new-product developers alike are going with the glow as more auxiliary offerings are added to the category.

Aimed at both interior and exterior applications, the Vision line from Royal Philips includes LED bulbs for dome lights, glove box lights, brake lights and taillights, back-up lights, license plate lights and fog lights.

Designed to last at least 12 years, “you will likely never have to replace them again,” says divisional CEO Eric Rondolat.

The company’s Xtreme Ultinon Fog bulb provides a whiter, warmer and higher-lumen output, yet the pattern matches that of a regular filament bulb, he notes, adding that it emits 45 percent more light than standard halogen bulbs. “The patented SafeBeam design brings maximum visibility with a beam pattern that does not glare other road users,” he says.

A luxurious look

“As LED applications in automotive lighting continue to become more popular, we’re taking the technology to new levels and giving auto enthusiasts options that help them legally customize their vehicles,” says SYLVANIA marketing manager Brian Noble.

“Recent advancements in LED allow for aftermarket products to have the brightness and whiteness that original equipment LED products are known for – and the new product line from SYLVANIA mimics the lighting look on luxury vehicles while still being street legal,” he explains.

“The ZEVO line includes a number of high-impact products that provide vehicle owners with flexible styling options inside and out, and have the added benefit of being easy to install,” says Noble. An Interior Strip Kit presents 16 color choices with multiple lighting modes that can be quickly changed by pressing a button on the unit’s remote control.

Retrofit LEDs for dome, map and license plate applications “allow for easy replacement of those dingy, yellow incandescent bulbs with a brighter, whiter, sharper light source,” he says, while the ZEVO Fog DRL (daytime running light) offers “a modern LED look while delivering street-legal OEM performance both day and night,” Nobel adds. “The crisp, white LED provides a sleek style and automatically adjusts to day or night conditions with no extra controls or switches by sensing when the headlights are on.”

Accommodating off-roaders

Engineered and manufactured in Germany, an auxiliary LED light for offroad use from HELLA is capable of being submerged for up to five minutes while crossing a river or stream, according to spokesman Dr. Markus Richter. A heavy-duty version comes with a ventilation hose for fording muddier waters.

In September, Rugged Ridge added smaller sizes to its X-Clamp Mounting System line to accommodate lighting add-ons and other equipment configurations for the narrower tubing found on roof racks and push bars.

“This new size really expands the number of vehicles that the clamps can be used on,” says Alain Eboli, engineering manager at parent-firm Omix-ADA. “Not every Jeep, truck and SUV has big tubing; these smaller sizes really make it convenient to attach any number of different accessories securely in a variety of locations.”

A 72-watt, 13.5-inch LED light bar – which produces both a flood- and spot-beam light pattern – “provides the light you need to have fun on the trails after dark,” he says, “by illuminating the area around you.”

To further its nationwide marketing strategies, the Suwanee, Ga.-based Omix and Rugged have aligned with Meyer Distributing, which covers all 50 states.

“This partnership essentially allows us to get more of our products in the hands of jobbers, industry enthusiasts and consumers, quicker and more effectively,” says Omix president Al Azadi. “Meyers has a quick turnaround, which is crucial for jobbers and installers, and their reputation helps bring awareness to our family of brands.”

Specializing in specialty merchandise such as auxiliary lighting and other automotive options, in August Meyer announced that it is relocating its 50,000- sq. ft. Grand Prairie, Texas facility to a new 17-acre, 325,000-sq. ft. distribution center in Arlington, Texas.

Headquartered in Jasper, Ind., the company is also opening a new DC in Eagan, Minn. “The Minneapolis distribution center will provide quicker access to product for many customers in the North Central U.S.,” reports Matt Schaick, Meyer’s national credit manager. “From Minneapolis to the Dakotas, customers will see improved delivery frequency and arrival times via Meyer Logistics.”

“The new Arlington distribution facility will greatly improve our operational efficiency,” says CFO Jeff Braun. “We look forward to rolling out our new warehouse management system to our Texas operations in Arlington and Houston,” he adds. “We expect improved fulfillment accuracy and a better customer experience in a short amount of time.”

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