Optrontec, a company specializing in optical components led by CEO Choi Sangho, announced on October 27 that it has established a mass production system for slim-type 8-inch glass wafers and begun supplying them, following the standard-type mass production, in order to expand the application of its Micro Lens Array (MLA) glass wafer technology to all Genesis models of Hyundai Motor Company.
Optrontec's MLA technology is an advanced optical technology that arranges hundreds of ultra-fine lenses on both sides of a wafer with precise alignment of the optical axes and uses ion deposition-based patterning technology to control the position of each lens with extreme precision.
In particular, the bonding process for the 8-inch wafer utilizes specialized equipment identical to that used in semiconductor fabrication by Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, enabling flawless micron-level bonding. All production processes are managed with 100% data traceability through a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), and a semiconductor-level quality standard of 99.9% is applied to produce highly reliable products.
The MLA technology not only enables a slimmer headlamp design compared to conventional headlamps but also offers various functional advantages, such as reducing glare and improving nighttime visibility. As a result, it provides a safer driving environment for both drivers and pedestrians, and Hyundai Motor Company is strategically adopting this technology in its premium Genesis lineup. The MLA headlamps, currently applied to the GV80 and GV80 Coupe, are being considered for expansion to the G90 flagship model, as well as future models such as the GV90 electric vehicle and the Grandeur facelift.
The company expects that MLA technology will likely spread across global automotive OEMs in the future. To this end, Optrontec is focusing on next-generation technology development at its Optical Technology Center located in Daedeok Research Complex, Daejeon. The company plans to leverage its optical technology expertise, which originated in smartphones, to drive innovation in the automotive industry through MLA.
An Optrontec representative stated, "We are continuously advancing the deposition and coating technologies we have accumulated over 37 years to secure a leading edge in optical technology in the global market, and supplying this to global clients is our core business expansion strategy."
Meanwhile, at Optrontec's Optical Technology Center, alongside the development and mass production of MLA, the company is accelerating the development of mass production technology for the next-generation upgrade of its currently mass-produced single-channel Logo Lamp: an Automotive Projection Unit (APU) with four or more channels.
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