Hella (company)

Hella KGaA Hueck & Co. (own spelling HELLA) is an internationally operating German automotive supplier with headquarters in Lippstadt, North Rhine -Westphalia. Core businesses are lighting systems, vehicle electronics and Aftermarket & Special OE ( original equipment specific ). In addition, Hella transfers in the business field Industries existing know -how gradually to new business segments; Examples include LED street lights and LED airport lighting.

Generally

Hella is one of the top 50 global automotive suppliers, as well as the 100 largest German industrial companies, and has one of the largest aftermarket organizations for automotive parts, accessories, diagnosis and services in Europe. Worldwide, approximately 29,000 people in more than 70 manufacturing facilities, production subsidiaries, partnerships and joint ventures are engaged in more than 30 countries. Of these, more than 5,500 engineers and technicians in research and development.

History

The company was founded in 1899 by Sally Windmüller under the name " Westfälische Metall-Industrie Aktien-Gesellschaft (WMI) ". At the time, the product range of bulb horns and candles and kerosene lamps for carriages.

The name Hella was first used in 1908 as a trademark for an acetylene headlights. 1923 took over the Lüdenscheider manufacturing family Hueck majority of the shares. 1986, the name Hella was eventually incorporated into the company name. The most likely explanation for the Hella brand name is Sally Windmüller attributed to himself, who wanted to his wife Helene, in short form, Hella, honor, at the same time but was "brighter" use the playful association between the name and the word.

After the Second World War began with the expansion of the company, so that the first German subsidiary was established in Wembach in 1951. Today, the company has seven manufacturing sites in Germany. These are located in Lippstadt, Paderborn ( closes end of 2013 ), Bremen, Recklinghausen, Hamm ( Bockum- Hovel ), Nellingen and Wembach. The existing since 1973 central warehouse in Erwitte operates today as Hella Distribution GmbH. In the early 1960s, was also begun with the internationalization of the company and founded in 1961, the first foreign manufacturing facility in Mentone, Australia. Today, Hella has 70 locations in 30 countries and is in the business centers of Europe, NAFTA / South America, Africa and Asia / Pacific represented.

Since the 1990s, Hella Ventures is also involved with other automotive suppliers at multiple joint. These serve to build on the core business areas beyond proficiency in other areas. Hella is currently at seven different collaborations with Behr Plastic Omnium, Samlip, Leoni, Gutmann and Mando involved (Stand: 09/ 2011). These joint ventures are for example HBPO and BHTC GmbH in Lippstadt or Intedis GmbH in Würzburg. The different joint ventures are mostly concerned with the architecture of electronic power systems (joint venture Intedis ) or the development of diagnostic hardware (joint venture Hella Gutmann Solutions, Ihringen ). Furthermore, the joint holding company "Hella Stanley Pty Ltd " with Stanley Electric Co., Ltd. in 2002. founded as a partner and based in Melbourne.

Due to strong economic fluctuations Hella had in fiscal year 2005/ 06 losses recorded in earnings. A decreed by the management program to reduce costs and increase efficiency, however, showed very fast effect, so that Hella already in the following fiscal year 2006/ 07 again generated an operating profit. In fiscal year 2007/ 08, which ended on 31 May 2008, the operating profit continued to be significantly increased. These Hella recorded with 3.9 billion, the second highest consolidated revenues of the company history, which was only surpassed in the past financial year 2010/ 2011. Here sales amounted to around 4.4 billion euros. Thus, for the first time in company history, sales of over 4 billion euros has been generated. In the following fiscal year 2011/2012 the turnover could be further increased to 4.8 billion euros.

Products

Hella consists of two business segments: Business Opportunities Automotive segment the original equipment belonged to the business areas of lighting and electronics. Here are all major automotive manufacturer to customers. The second segment is aftermarket with the divisions Aftermarket & Special OE. These Hella has one business segment: Industries.

• Division develops and manufactures light Hella headlights, lamps and interior lighting. Recent innovations are sensors controlled headlight systems that adapt to the current driving situation and weather conditions, as well as glare -free high beam. Headlights with LEDs as light sources for low and high beam are already produced in series, such as the Cadillac Escalade Platinum. As position and daytime running lights, they are in many middle and upper class vehicles often already available as standard.

• Camera-based driver assistance systems provide new opportunities for optimal light distribution depending on the traffic situation. For this reason, the company took over in 2006, the Berlin-based specialist AGLAIA for visual sensor systems.

• Systems to increase efficiency, safety and comfort systems dominate the electronics product portfolio. These include data -enabled electronic control units as well as overhead control units in the form of light - electronics modules, but also driving access and drive authorization systems. Modules for power management to optimize the energy balance of the vehicle electrical system and improving battery charge balance. Other lines of electronic driver assistance systems, including based on 24 GHz radar sensors. Important products are here lane change assistant and Ausparkhilfen. Other key areas are electronic components such as actuators, pedal sensor, steering control equipment for EPS systems, oil sensors, position sensors, rain / light sensors, headlight cleaning systems and vacuum pumps.

• Hella has one of the largest trade organizations in Europe for automotive parts and accessories, with its own sales companies and partners in more than 100 countries. This Hella supplies the automotive aftermarket and garages with extensive and constantly growing parts ranges from the product portfolio. In addition, aftermarket and garages receive sales support and technical service. The joint venture Behr Hella Service was founded in 2005 for the joint processing of the global independent aftermarket for vehicle air conditioning and engine cooling.

• In addition to vehicle accessories for civilian cars Hella develops and manufactures also special signaling systems for official emergency vehicles. These include rotating beacons and strobe-type lights ( blue and yellow ), optical detection systems ( OWS) as well as worry -tone combinations ( RTK). These are compact roof structures that combine two blue lights, a siren and possibly several additional elements. They are used by police, emergency services, fire departments, agencies for technical aid and numerous other operators of emergency and special vehicles. In addition to the product range for authorities nor headlights, so-called road clearers include ( strobe lights on the bumper ) and some other products, such as covert special signaling systems for civilian emergency vehicles.

• Through strategic partnerships with companies such as Plastic Omnium and Behr Hella is well established in other areas, such as front-ends (joint venture HBPO GmbH, Lippstadt ) and climate control systems and sensors (joint venture BHTC GmbH, Stuttgart).

• The New Zealand subsidiary Hella New Zealand Limited provides the Hella Marine range lights for marine use. In addition to mast lights and interior lights in LED technology also includes lighting systems for boat trailers.

• In the " Industries " transfers Hella existing technologies from the automotive sector to new customer target groups. The first pilot project a few road trains were equipped with a newly developed LED street lighting in the town of Lippstadt, the headquarters of the company. Several cities in China are now equipped with this type of energy efficient street lighting. Another project is the LED airport lighting, this is so far among other things, the airports Luxembourg, Paderborn / Lippstadt and Stavanger used. In addition, in this business are new Personenzählgeräte and LED interior lighting, including for the kitchen area, offered.

• 2012 Hella went with the Chinese carmaker BAIC into a cooperation agreement to develop the Chinese market tailored lighting systems and produce.

Product Development Milestones

Product Development

Evidence

51.6743498.356809Koordinaten: 51 ° 40 ' 28 " N, 8 ° 21' 25" E

• Automotive
• Production Company ( lighting technology )
• Company ( Soest )
• Lippstadt