Light-Diffusing Compounds and Revolutionary LED Technology Provide Interior Lighting Solutions for Ford Cross-Over SUV
WINONA, MINNESOTA, USA - (March 13, 2008) - When Visteon, a leading global automotive supplier, needed a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting solution for the interior of the Ford Motor Company's 2007 Ford Edge cross-over SUV, it specified the latest LED technology from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors that utilizes RTP Company's light-diffusing plastic compounds.
LED technology has become a popular light source among automakers because of its styling flexibility energy efficiency, unlimited color options and high reliability. "Because LEDs can help customize a lighting scheme to enhance branding, interior lighting LEDs and light-diffusing materials are gaining the attention of engineers and designers," said Dave Pahl, Market Manager - Automotive, at RTP Company. "Our light-diffusing compounds can be used to shift
or manipulate the intensity and emitted color of a backlit component. They
also provide consistency by eliminating hot spots, which is critical to achieving compelling interior lighting harmony."
With the expert manipulation of dye and pigment combinations, RTP Company's light-diffusing compounds can shift the color of an illuminated graphic, for example, from blue to green by filtering specific wavelengths of the emitted light. This color converting technology provides designers with a wider range of color options for interiors. It can also be used with white LEDs to fine-tune the color temperature in both warm white and cool white spectrums.
For the Ford Edge SUV, RTP Company and OSRAM worked closely together to develop the climate control lighting in the cockpit. The light-diffusing compounds provide an ideal contrast to the stylish metallic finish of the automobile.
"There was a distinct interaction with the LED and the plastic materials that needed to be optimized to achieve the harmonious backlighting desired for Ford,"
said Michael Godwin, OSRAM Business Development Manager. "The customer's interior lighting needs were met with the best solution uniquely tailored to their needs."
RTP Company conducted a DOE (design of experiment) and formulated a customized RTP 300 Series polycarbonate light-diffusing compound. The material provided the optimal balance of light transmission versus haze that worked perfectly with OSRAM's LEDs.
"Knowledge and expertise in backlighting are not well understood in the industry and solving these illumination problems is beneficial for both RTP Company and OSRAM," continued Godwin. "With optimization of the light diffusing materials, evenness and legibility can be tailored to meet the customer's desired backlighting and ergonomic requirements."
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors specializes in harmony in lighting, defined as control of color, luminance, evenness and legibility. Together, OSRAM and RTP Company provide total lighting solutions to automotive OEMs and Tier One suppliers.
For more information call (800) 433-4787 or (507) 454-6900, or visit our website at www.rtpcompany.com.
About RTP Company
RTP Company, headquartered in Winona, Minnesota, is a global leader in specialty thermoplastic compounding. The company has eight manufacturing plants on three continents, plus sales representatives throughout North America, Europe, and Asia/Pacific. RTP Company's engineers develop custom compounds in over 60 different engineering resin systems for applications requiring color, conductive, elastomeric, flame retardant, high temperature, shielding, structural, and wear resistant properties. For more information, contact RTP Company via telephone at 507-454-6900 or toll-free 800-433-4787, visit our web site at www.rtpcompany.com or e-mail rtp@rtpcompany.com
About OSRAM Opto Semiconductors
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors is a wholly owned subsidiary of OSRAM, one of the world's two leading lighting manufacturers. It offers its customers solutions based on semiconductor technology for lighting, sensor and visualization applications. For more information, visit www.osram-os.com
About Visteon Corporation
Visteon is a leading global automotive supplier that designs, engineers and manufactures innovative climate, interior, electronic and lighting products for vehicle manufacturers, and also provides a range of products and services to aftermarket customers. For more information, visit www.visteon.com.
Contact: Kris Jommersbach
Gemini Communications
PH: 610-935-1633
Email: krisj@geminiinc.com
