Leverkusen, November 14, 2012 – Municipalities in numerous countries are facing ma-jor challenges. They need to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions while at the same time further improving road safety – despite reduced funding. In close collaboration with Bayer MaterialScience, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. has developed Eco StreetLine, a modular and innovative street lighting solution tailored to meet these requirements. The two companies have been collaborating for decades in the field of automotive lighting and were able to make good use of the knowledge gleaned there in the design of the street lighting system.

“The use of energy-efficient LED technology alone can reduce energy consumption by up to 70 percent versus conventional streetlights,” explains Oliver Thurau, Sales Manager at the lighting and electronics specialists, Hella. “Municipal budgets and the environment benefit equally from this.” Depending on the ambient lighting conditions, the streetlights can be dimmed by as much as 50 percent. The long service life of the LED modules of approximately 50,000 hours or twelve years also plays a role in reducing the operating costs.

Ensuring or even improving the safety of the various traffic participants while consuming less energy is a particular challenge. “This is achieved by the targeted bundling and guidance of the LED light with the help of special optical lenses,” says Dr. Klaus Reinartz, head of the global LED program at Bayer MaterialScience. For these and other optical applications for LED technology, the company has developed special polycarbonate materials marketed under the name Makrolon® LED. “They can be processed economically by injection molding and offer a great degree of design freedom, including for implementing more complex lens shapes,” adds Reinartz. “They are also more break-resistant and significantly more resistant to high temperatures than other transparent plastics.”

Thanks to the adjustable and precise distribution of light with the free-form lenses, the Eco StreetLine concept also reduces the formation of light pollution, which is a factor
primarily in large cities. This phenomenon is considered to be partly responsible for the sleep problems and overstimulation suffered by many people.

About Bayer MaterialScience:
With 2011 sales of EUR 10.8 billion, Bayer MaterialScience is among the world’s largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction and the sports and leisure industries. At the end of 2011, Bayer MaterialScience had 30 production sites and employed approximately 14,800 people around the globe. Bayer MaterialScience is a Bayer Group company.

About Hella KGaA Hueck & Co.:
HELLA is a global, independent, family-owned company based in Lippstadt, Germany, with more than 27,000 employees at 70 locations in more than 30 countries. The HELLA Group develops and manufactures lighting and electronic components and systems for the automotive industry and also has one of the largest trade organizations for automotive parts, accessories, diagnosis and services in Europe. Complete vehicle modules, air-conditioning systems and vehicle electrical systems are produced in joint venture companies. With more than 4,800 people working in research and development, HELLA is one of the most important innovation drivers on the market. In addition, its sales of EUR 4.8 billion in fiscal 2011/2012 make the HELLA Group one of the top 50 automotive suppliers in the world and one of the 100 largest German industrial companies.

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Find more information at www.materialscience.bayer.com and www.hella.com.

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