“We have to focus on LED applications and Xenon based intelligent light solutions.”
ZKW, Zizala Lichtsysteme Gmbh, produce lamps for the automotive industry.
They offer complex-reflector and projector-type headlamps and fog lamps, lens-flare headlights, side lights, interior lights, and direction indicator lamps. The company was founded in 1938 and is based in Wieselburg, Austria.
Driving Vision News : Jürgen, you have been involved in lighting for several years. What is now your function inside ZKW? Can you tell us more about you, your education and your career?
Jürgen Antonitsch: I am part of the automotive game since 1992 and now CTO, Chief Technical Officer of the ZKW Group, responsible for all development sites in the group. After finishing my engineering degree I went to Zumtobel lighting for a couple of years. Then I started at ZKW in Wieselburg as an optical engineer and had the chance to set up the whole R&D area from the very beginning. In parallel I went to St. Gallen to enhance my economic and management skills.
DVN: ZKW company is growing within the automotive market but deserves to be better known. Could you introduce your company to Driving Vision News readers regarding products, sales, and employees?
J.A: ZKW is still a small player compared to our competitors. But we are focusing on premium forward lighting products. We also have been influenced by the global downturn in 2009 but ZKW was in the position to launch several new products which brought us up close to €200m. The whole Group employs around 2100 people.