Osram Sylvania has added the first Surface Mount Technology (SMT) production line to its Hillsboro, Oregon manufacturing facility. The company says that the new production line will fabricate LED modules for use in automotive applications. Osram says it is investing in R&D and production capacities, infrastructure and talent to support the technology migration to LED systems for automobiles. Osram Sylvania reportedly invested millions of dollars in the plant for the new ISO class 8 Gray Room. LED modules produced from the new production line are already on the road. The 2016 Ford Explorer LED headlamp features LED modules that the plant produced.
“Osram invested in industry leading electronics production equipment in all three global regions to serve our automotive customer base with world class production,” said David Hulick, global OEM SSL marketing director, Osram Sylvania, during the company’s automotive lighting showcase in the Detroit area this week, where it displayed its breadth of lighting solutions for OEMs and set makers. “Innovative designs and state of the art Surface Mount Technology lines, such as the new one installed in New Hampshire with tight tolerance LED placement capabilities, make it possible for Osram to deliver the precision, quality and supply that our global customers demand.”
The 2016 Ford F150 employs the first LED forward lighting headlamp in a pick-up truck. The forward lighting headlamp uses new Hillsboro-produced Osram LED modules. Such modules are also in the Ford Explorer, and the Audi A7 adaptive matrix LED headlights also use the modules.
“As the leading automotive light source designer and manufacturer, Osram Automotive Lighting provides OEM customers with a portfolio of top-quality interior and exterior lighting solutions, ranging from individual LEDs to standardized LED systems as well as HID systems, auxiliary light sources and advanced halogen products,” said Julian Dench, senior vice president and general manager, SP Americas Region, Osram Sylvania.
Dariusz Laskowski, product line manager, who oversees the new SMT line at Osram Sylvania commented, “Everyone in the Hillsboro plant, whether they make the premium halogen headlights you see in retail stores or the LED headlamp in the new Ford F-150, is committed to quality because they know how important clear visibility is on the road. ”
