Wolfsburg, September 19, 2024 – The EDAG Group, the world's leading independent engineering service provider, is opening its new light laboratory at its site in Wolfsburg today with a partner event. The company is thus addressing the high demands of the automotive industry and other sectors. The opening marks a significant milestone in the collaborative development of lighting solutions for next-generation products.
In the laboratory, the EDAG Group uses advanced measurement and test procedures to take a close look at lighting in a variety of scenarios. Modern light solutions must impress with their energy efficiency and fulfill high technological standards. This is where EDAG comes in, helping customers evaluate and optimize their products.
Cross-sector relevance
The light laboratory is available to a wide range of customers from all kinds of industries and serves for more than just the mere evaluation of lighting solutions. The laboratory allows EDAG to evaluate many products in different scenarios. The experts could also measure displays, illuminated control elements and other light functions and then examine the properties of the objects, for example. Working together with customers, it is thus possible to ensure the functionality, quality, user-friendliness, energy efficiency and durability of devices and components. Other industries that will be able to benefit from the laboratory in the future include aerospace, medical technology, consumer electronics and the household appliance industry.
"We are strategically expanding our range of services by applying to other industries the many years of experience we have gained in the automotive industry. Our extensive expertise and high quality standards help us test the products of even more customers,” explains Jannes Buthmann, Expert and Technical Lead Light&Vision at EDAG. "We share not only the results of our analysis with our customers, but also suggest optimizations. Together, we always find the right solutions.”
A major advantage for the mobility industry
The unique selling point of the new light laboratory is the design of the photogoniometer. In contrast to conventional goniometers, it can capture much larger components with the same precision. The high-precision measuring robot allows the recording and measurement of large components and entire vehicle front or rear ends. The results serve as a basis for a realistic analysis of the lighting properties – an important step to optimize lighting functions and ensure traffic safety. To create an accurate light distribution analysis, the robot captures individual objects in different positions and angles. Overall, using the robot greatly reduces the workload. Since it can measure complete systems, the evaluation of lighting solutions is faster and easier, all without compromising on accuracy.
Synergy with the Zero Prototype Lab
Also located at the Wolfsburg site is EDAG's Zero Prototype Lab, which has been in operation since June 2024. It was once again open to the public on the opening day of the light laboratory. This facility is the only one of its kind in Europe and allows customers to model, test and improve vehicle prototypes, including all their functions, in a vehicle simulator before building the models. In the future, the light laboratory and the Zero Prototype Lab will operate in direct cooperation - another added value for customers from the mobility industry. Previously recorded lighting functions can be displayed virtually in the simulator thanks to the integration. This is a perfect starting point for customers to make any necessary adjustments. Tests under a range of weather conditions, such as rain, fog and snow, can also be carried out. Customers can thus check lighting functions under different conditions and test whether the lighting works effectively and reliably in all situations. The simulations also significantly reduce the number of actual test drives. This saves time and money, speeds up development and protects the environment at the same time.
Tibor Giesen, Team Leader Light&Sight at EDAG, adds: “The new light laboratory is a further expansion to our innovation site. Our photogoniometer is virtually unique in Europe. The opening of the laboratory underlines our role as a pioneer of modern measurement and testing methods. Together with our customers, we are successfully driving forward the development of safe and energy-efficient vehicle lighting and setting new standards in the process.”