Automotive Industry

Over 50 Years of Experience in the Automotive Industry.

The automotive industry is reinventing itself. The powertrain is undergoing a revolution, vehicles are being further digitised and driving itself is becoming increasingly automated. With more than 50 years of experience as a development service provider in the automotive industry, Bertrandt has the know-how for the entire value creation process and is able to take responsibility for new system developments on behalf of OEMs and suppliers.

We have located our sites in close proximity to all OEMs. Our specialists are familiar with the whole vehicle development process, ranging from the vehicle body and electronics to simulation and testing concepts. This enables us to ensure continuous development – from the initial design sketch right through to series production. Numerous technology and customer projects mean that we are well-versed in all aspects of digitisation, electrification and autonomous driving.

Our range of services for the automotive industry

Design: As soon as the development process begins, our design team is ready to start. We implement the design requirements, develop the first ideas and studies, and visualise these in a design model of the vehicle on a 1:1 scale.

Concept phase: We transform the design language into a vehicle concept that is ready for series production, taking into account all legal and customer-specific requirements and all production parameters.

Prototype phase: Our design modelling and rapid technologies experts implement this production-ready vehicle concept in the form of design and functional prototypes. In doing so, we not only use classical CAD data generation for visualisation and simulation but also apply methods of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

Development phase: We use state-of-the-art development methods, follow the DevOps (Development Operations) approach for software and our experts develop algorithms for neural networks and machine learning. The more complex the projects become, the more frequently we apply agile development methods.

Production phase: We transfer the development phase into production processes, while taking the production requirements into account. We plan the production processes and support our customers in implementing them. Our engineers also accompany the start of production in the factories by providing launch support.

Our range of services

  • Design services including Class-A surfacing , virtual reality and design modelling
  • Interior development for seats, cockpit and trim and for interior development (greenhouse)
  • Vehicle body development including the body-in-white (BIW), doors, closures, light and visibility
  • Exterior development of the front and rear end, underfloor and with system integration
  • Joining technologies for lightweight design and material hybridisation of the vehicle body
  • Chassis development including axles, steering, brakes and electronic control systems
  • Powertrain including component development, thermodynamics, engine management and electrification of the powertrain
  • Automotive electronics for infotainment, chassis control, on-board power network and connectivity, even as far as automated driving
  • Testing and validation with interior/exterior testing, engine testing, chassis testing, active and passive vehicle safety, acoustics/noise, E/E testing/electric mobility

Bertrandt is involved in numerous technology and customer projects for OEMs with the aim of developing automated and autonomous driving strategies. These include, among other things, the processing of sensor data from camera, ultrasound, laser and lidar radar systems for environment recognition.

Other projects involve software and function developments for steering control with lateral/longitudinal control and trajectory planning of the route. We interconnect automated driving functions and connect vehicles with backend/cloud systems.

Examples of projects

  • HARRI  in-house innovation project
  • Integration and validation of various sensor technologies and generations (e.g. radar-based)
  • Lidar technology projects
  • Highly accurate outdoor and indoor localization, incl. handover at the transition point (e.g. when driving via GPS into a parking garage)
     

Experience more

Bertrandt has its own electric mobility centres. We develop and test solutions for every aspect of electric powertrains, charging technologies, high-voltage storage systems, battery management systems and functions and applications of power electronics for vehicles.

For the validation of electric mobility, we operate our own testing centres for high-voltage batteries, power electronics and electric drive systems.

Examples of projects

  • Project for inductive charging
  • Derivative development for high-voltage batteries
  • Battery design and thermal design
     

Experience more

The automated (SAE level 3 and 4) and autonomous (SAE level 5) driving functions in the vehicles of tomorrow require connectivity and bi-directional data sharing via online services. However, there are still a number of obstacles to be overcome in order to achieve the necessary degree of connectivity. Bertrandt has acquired extensive expertise in this area on behalf of car manufacturers and automotive industry suppliers and is making use of new development methods.
 

Experience more

Bertrandt develops innovative concepts for car manufacturers for the use of optical lighting systems for the exterior/ interior and for lighting control systems. For exterior/interior lighting, we create luminous models and prototypes on the basis of mathematical models and test the visual effects before the start of production.

Exterior lighting

The Bertrandt design department creates innovative lighting concepts. Our design teams employ the mathematical/physical surface calculations generated by our light simulation team in coordination with surfacing development.

We develop algorithms for controlling adaptive light systems and take responsibility for the design of lights and headlights in assistance systems and control units. We create complete lighting units with mirrors, reflectors and light guides.

Interior lighting

In the interior, the main focus is on moods, ambience and the aesthetic aspects of lighting. We develop colour concepts and use innovative light guides and light sources.

Together with our experts from the electrics and electronics departments, we develop the hardware and software for controlling interior lighting and designing colour moods.

Our services for vehicle lighting technology

  • AFS (adaptive front lighting systems)
  • Ambient lighting
  • Interior lighting
  • Laser headlights
  • Running lights / dynamic indicators
  • LED / xenon / laser / halogen / OLED
  • Light presentation
  • Light guide design
  • Light patterns
  • Light simulation
  • Lighting systems
  • LucidShape
  • Matrix headlights
  • Motorsport lights
  • Optics design/calculation
  • Prototype headlights
  • Ray tracing
  • Reflector/design

Bertrandt employs a team of surfacing technology experts who implement the design in technically feasible, high-quality vehicle surfaces for interior and exterior areas.

The surfacing team carries out projects for the development of Class-A surfaces, for example for bonnets, wings and the roof. The surfacing team develops mathematical/physical surface descriptions in close compliance with the intended design statement. In particular, the technical requirements of the production processes are implemented.

Our surfacing expertise

  • Surface design
  • Class A surfaces
  • Free form surfaces
  • ICEM Surf
  • Alias
  • Grasshopper
  • Maya
  • Design
  • CAS
  • Polygon modelling
  • Technical surfaces

Bertrandt develops hybrid lightweight bodies using materials such as aluminium, magnesium, high-strength and complex steels, thermoplastics or natural and carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP).   

Our experts for joining technologies work together with material manufacturers and new concepts for hybrid construction methods for cost-effective mass production. As a system integrator, we also take responsibility for validating hybrid constructions in our testing centres.

Our body-in-white expertise

  • Platform
  • Frontend
  • Bodyshell
  • Spaceframe
  • Lightweight design
  • Roof systems
  • Sunroof
  • Vehicle door
  • Side impact
  • Door modules
  • Door joint
  • Hinges
  • Tailgate / boot lid
  • Convertible top compartment
  • Bonnet
  • Pedestrian protection
  • Wings
  • Torsional and bending stiffness

Motorcycle

Commercial Vehicles

Agricultural Machinery

Headquarter

Bertrandt AG

Birkensee 1, 71139 Ehningen, Germany