Lumax opens new technology and design centre in the Czech Republic

Lumax Industries has inaugurated an advanced lighting and technical centre in Czech Republic, making it the company’s first technology centre in Europe opened under the aegis of its wholly-owned subsidiary – Lumax Industries Czech.

The new tech centre – Lumax European Technical Centre (LETC), located in the CTPark industrial zone in Ostrava-Hrabova, Czech Republic, will provide future and advanced technological development of automotive lighting solutions for the Indian market.

The LETC will also be involved in augmenting the company’s engineering competencies in the areas of process development, creation of custom engineering tools and software, as well as training and skill development. 

According to Todd C Morgan, chief technical and innovation officer, Lumax Industries, “The centre will play a critical role in enhancing competencies in the design of optics, electronic hardware and software for automotive lighting which includes CAE analysis and simulation. We will be particularly focused on electronics and software development, which are clearly the main building blocks of future automotive lighting technologies.”

In an earlier interview with Autocar Professional, Morgan had said that technology and innovation continue to accelerate at an exponential rate in the lighting industry, which is why the company is strategically investing in developing new technologies.

“The key purpose of the LETC will be to develop leading-edge automotive lighting technologies and adapt them for the Indian market. We have found Czech Republic to be an ideal ecosystem for innovation and new technology development,” said an optimistic Deepak Jain, Chairman and MD, Lumax Industries.

The company, through its joint venture with Japan’s Stanley Electric Company, is a leader in exterior vehicle lighting systems in India. Lumax’s customers range from Maruti Suzuki India, Honda Cars India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Hero MotoCorp and Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India among others.

As per Vineet Sahni, CEO and Senior Executive Director, Lumax Industries, "In India, OEMs are collaborating with design centres in Europe, so LETC will be a gateway for them to help in communication and accelerating the vehicle development process."

The LETC has opened with a total workforce of 15 employees stationed in the CTPark industrial zone in Ostrava-Hrabova in Czech Republic, and will see further strengthening of the team with induction of more engineers, designers and programmers.

Back in India, the growing volumes of electric vehicles are compelling Lumax Industries to mull capacity expansion through a greenfield facility in the western part of the country. As of early September, the company claimed having an order book of Rs 300 crore, with supply commitments to electric passenger vehicle and two-wheeler OEMs.

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