From the idea to the finished product: a case study.

At Ledlenser our thinking is customer-focused. The user is at the heart of all decisions. That’s why the impetus for new product ideas always comes from the customers themselves – at least indirectly: Either customers present us with new challenges stemming from new trends or types of sports, or they let us know their product-related wishes and problems directly. We compile these problems, rate their relevance and develop possible solutions.

Using this approach, our brainstorming always takes new routes. The following example shows exactly what this process can look like:

The evolution of the Ledlenser XEO19R

First come the needs analysis. Before the XEO19R, head torches on the market either had a fixed light field (competition) or the option of switching between low and high beam (Ledlenser). We recognized a problem: What happens if a customer doesn’t want to decide between low and high beam, but would rather have the advantages of both settings at the same time?

The solution: There needs to be a head torch with a light that can be steplessly and individually adjusted. But how could we do that? The path to enlightenment went via our technological knowledge. The Advanced Focus System (AFS) would have to be used again – but like never before. We wanted to develop the first dual focusable light. To do this we needed to integrate two AFS lamps with reflector lenses which could be focused separately and could therefore offer the user even more customization. A doubly compelling concept. And that was how our product idea got the “green light”.

But to get to the finished light there was still an extensive development process. The evolution of any new Ledlenser follows the same pattern, and this is what, in the end, allows us to achieve exceptional quality. For simplicity, we’ve roughly outlined it for you here:

Analysis of customer’s wants and needs → Competition analysis → Product research → Product idea → Product design → Preliminary product module design → Overall design → Prototype production → Product tests → Production planning → New product