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LED headlamp system - prototype developed

New LED headlamp helps to reduce CO² emissions and save energy costs.

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The company

Established in 2007, Racetech Harnessing Ltd designs and manufactures electrical parts for the professional motorsport industry. It also provides support to race teams and manufacturers at race circuits around the world, including Spa Francorchamps in Belgium and Monza in Italy.

Looking to progress in this sector, Racetech Harnessing wanted to develop a new energy efficient, cost effective headlamp system using the latest LED technology with potential to revolutionise head lamp systems for endurance race cars.

What they do

Derbyshire based Racetech Harnessing provides electrical solutions for all levels of motorsport from supplying single components to full design and manufacture of complete harnessing systems.

Racetech Harnessing has many years experience in professional motorsport, including Formula 1, where it has designed and manufactured electrical and harnessing systems for race car manufacturers including Jaguar, Renault and Ginetta.

The challenge

Consuming as little as a third of energy as traditional bulbs, LED lighting can save fuel and reduce CO² emissions, reducing primary energy costs on average by around 70%. Inherent in its lifelong capacity, a LED headlamp system would not only be able outperform conventional lighting systems but also run for the life of a vehicle without need for replacement.

However, Racetech Harnessing needed support financially, as well as outside expertise and advice on how to get the project off the ground.

The solution

Racetech Harnessing came across the Transport iNet through an online article in the Business Link newsletter and made contact in July 2009. The company put forward its idea to innovation advisors James Reeves and Achillefs Tsotras, who began working with Racetech Harnessing on the project.

The Transport iNet provided Racetech Harnessing with matched funding of £7,500 which was used to assist with product research and design of the two LED front lamps. Extensive research was done specifically into the potential of LED technology at its current level for use in the motorsport industry and the legislation it would need to adhere to.

Racetech Harnessing was also introduced to a collaboration partner by the Transport iNet who assisted in the development of a prototype system helping with optical and thermal design and lens manufacture.

The company was given ongoing advice and support throughout the project , plus links to potential partners and support schemes, as well as being introduced to industry bodies to help progress development and introduce the LED headlamp system to potential markets.

The outcome

Through the support, advice and funding from the Transport iNet Racetech Harnessing was able to develop a prototype of the LED headlamp system which is now being tested in both the motorsport industry and also for potential road vehicles.

Once testing has been completed successfully, Racetech Harnessing will be the first company to have such a product on the market which could be universally fitted to race cars and road cars.

The support we received from the Transport iNet was fundamental to developing the LED headlamp system and without it we may never have got it off the ground. The research they did provided us with vital information we needed to get the project started.

The financial support and introductions to a collaborative partner enabled us to start designing and building the system which we are now testing out. It will be introduced to the market using the contacts we have developed. The Transport iNet have facilitated this project from the start and we look forward to continuing to work with them as the LED headlamp system develops.

John Truman, Racetech Harnessing
About the client

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Racetech Harnessing Ltd
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