REHAU leads innovative lighting project
Polymer specialist REHAU and its partners are exploring OLED lighting technology, an innovative lighting technology that allows light to be uniform, bendable, very thin and transparent. Led by companies of various sizes, including REHAU, the aim of the project is to quickly develop concepts related to flexible OLED lighting technology at the most cost-effective costs and to bring products to market when the market is ready. The project is part of the European programme under Lyteus and is funded by the EU.
Rehau's role within the consortium; Audi AG, together with Pilkington and Emde Design, verify sample manufacturing as a commercial promotional customer. The research activities are supported by the Photonics Public-Private Partnership and by the European Commission, with a total budget of 14m euros.
REHAU enters 
the printed electronics market With this project, REHAU enters the printed electronics market, said Engineer Dr. Dr. Of REHAU Corporate Research and Development, Advanced Technologies Unit.
"With our technical knowledge of the processing of polymer materials, we try to integrate OLED films into tape edges and profiles. If the project is successful, these profiles can illuminate aircraft cabins, for example, as a design highlight. In addition, OLED's, which are advanced, film-based and therefore flexible, can be used in many other application areas. Polymer specialist REHAU can also make various possible applications in the automotive industry. REHAU demonstrates the new design freedom of OLED lighting in its smart server application, which is a technology carrier. The films are integrated in the back of the vehicle in the form of spiral lights, creating a unique optical effect. The integration of OLEds into REHAU products is highly compatible with REHAU's strategic direction. The purpose of the company is continuous development. Polymer specialist REHAU invests in innovative technologies to offer its customers high quality and high-tech products."
Ranfeld: "OLEds can be the light of the future"
Ranfeld stated that there are commercialization barriers that must be overcome before technology reaches large markets. OLEds can be the light of the future. However, initially the technology should grow and commercial price points should be accessible. Lyteus helps companies like REHAU overcome this gap. It may also be possible to integrate it into windows. Window panels that are transparent during the day and illuminate the room at night are among the visions for the future. Polymer specialist REHAU's OLED technology; it can come to life in many applications in sectors such as automotive, aerospace or furniture."
About Lyteus:
Lyteus promises worldwide capacity and service in pilot production of customized, flexible OLEds and focuses on product flows in the fields of automotive, designer fixtures and aerospace applications. Co-ordinated by the Holst Centre, Lyteus brings together fourteen expert partners from five European countries, including AUDI AG, Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), VTT, Fraunhofer, M-Solv, FlexEnable, DuPont Teijin Films, Brabant Development Agency (BOM), REHAU, emde design, Pilkington, Coatema Coating Machinery and AMIRES. With a contribution of €14 million, Lyteus is a Photonics Public – Private Sector Partnership initiative jointly established by the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement no. 688093 (PI-SCALE project).
