DesignLED Products’ announcement it has been acquired by Faurecia, follows support from Scottish Enterprise since its formation in 2004.
Based near Edinburgh in Scotland, the design centre supports international automotive OEMs and their supply chains with solutions to complex optical, HMI and lighting integration challenges.
DesignLED is an LED lighting technology company with experience in designing, developing, prototyping and scaling thin and flexible LED lighting and HMI products for the automotive industry.
The supplier focuses on emotional and functional use of lighting, while addressing the challenges of space, cost and integration. DesignLED has technology platforms supported by more than 68 patents world-wide.
“The outstanding designLED team has created an impressive portfolio of lighting technology which will be a real asset to Faurecia and its Clarion Electronics activity,” said Scottish Enterprise director of Growth Investments, Jan Robertson.
“Having supported designLED’s growth, we are excited to see how it develops under the global stewardship of Faurecia.”
DesignLED’s backlighting technologies can be adapted to virtually any automotive surface, including complex displays and interiors. Combined with Irystec’s work in image experience and processing, designLED will enable Faurecia to develop new types of backlighting for use cases that promote safety, personalisation and convenience.
The French supplier says this will give Faurecia Clarion Electronics greater design freedom for new generations of displays, which are able to be integrated in any type of cockpit configuration.
“This is a hugely important and exciting milestone in the evolution of designLED,” added designLED, CEO, Stuart Bain.
“In recent years we have established the company as a leader in automotive lighting and HMI innovation, building a reputation based not only on an extensive technology and intellectual property portfolio, but also the highly skilled and energetic team, which is already delivering ground-breaking lighting solutions to international OEM and Tier 1 customers.
“Looking to the future, the designLED team will be able to utilise Faurecia’s global reach, international customer base and engineering and manufacturing skills to accelerate adoption of our differentiated display and back-lighting technology.”
For his part, Displays Global Product Line director at Faurecia Clarion Electronics, Edouard da Silva, noted: “DesignLED’s technologies and team will enrich Faurecia’s display technologies ecosystem.
“Immersive experiences are fast becoming a defining factor in mobility and through the acquisition of designLED, we aim to strengthen Faurecia’s positioning in cockpit user experiences.”
The M&A process was managed by Aquin & Cie, headquartered in Munich, on behalf of designLED and its shareholders. Addleshaw Goddard Glasgow, acted as a legal advisor to the sellers.