Elumin8 and GSM Automotive have announced today that it has entered a formal strategic partnership for the development and production of illuminated tread plates. The companies have been working together for 18 months and the 1st project was for the Jaguar X351. The tread plates will incorporate both LED technology and electroluminescent (EL) technology and developed by Elumin8 sister company Luminous Media.
GSM Automotive has been producing tread plates for the automotive industry for three years for both production line and aftermarket use. GSM supply most car manufacturers in Europe. Market pressures have seen a demand for more advanced in car styling with illumination being seen as key and to be included across a wider range of models and not just the higher spec.
Elumin8 and GSM started work on prototypes in June 2008 with a first project roll out for the Jaguar X351 launched in late 2009. Having finalised the project both companies have developed a strong synergy. With at least three other projects being worked on through 2010 the companies have agreed a strategic partnership with mutual exclusivity for the UK and Europe.
Andrew Farthing from GSM said "we have a strong position in the market for tread plate production and moving to illumination will reinforce this further. Having a strategic partnership with Elumin8 as a manufacturer allows us to work in close partnership to develop exactly what our customers need".
Both companies now intend to work in two key areas. They are looking to maximise the return on development costs for the electronic components, as we develop the use of different lighting technologies including LED and OLED. This allows the companies to offer a variety of lighting effects to customers.
The technology used in the X351 is called electroluminescence (EL) and has been used by the automotive industry in the past. Chrysler was the 1st manufacturer to use it in the 1950s for dashboard illumination. The unique print process produces a flat flexible light source. EL is now used in various applications including touch screens and mobile phones; many of which are also produced by Luminous Media.
"We are really excited about the partnership. In my opinion the team at GSM are some of the most innovative and experienced at dealing with the automotive industry and have helped us to get up to their standard in a very short period of time. We work closely with them and have GSM employees working in our factory in China to ensure seamless project delivery" said Barry Hatcher of Elumin8. "This sort of product manufacture fits well with other areas of our business including LED products and we hope to start diversifying the range shortly"
Elumin8 (Hong Kong) Ltd is a subsidiary of the privately owned Luminous Media Group of Companies. The group is a specialist lighting manufacturer with a focus on the key technologies of Electroluminescence, LED and solar power. Elumin8 Ltd specialises in the development and production of road safety products, street lighting and illumination for the automotive and aeronautical industries.
The group headquarters is based in Hong Kong with a manufacturing facility in Southern China which is a wholly owned foreign enterprise with a specialist management team from Europe, North America, Middle East and Asia. The group has satellite offices in the UK, USA, Spain, France, Malaysia and New Zealand. The group is also represented in 23 countries and supplies many blue chip companies which include Coca Cola, Jaguar Land Rover Group, Diageo, Thales Defence to name a few
GSM Automotive is a subsidiary of the privately owned GSM Group with six facilities in UK and one in Germany. The Group specialise in technical products that in a number of aspects require a form of graphics. Our products include Vehicle Graphic Decals, Chrome effect and aluminium metal trim, functional film appliqués, anti chip stoneguard components, Labels, nameplates and thermal print hardware and software.
