New ecosystem from Hella marine provides ‘intuitive’ lighting solution

Hella marine has expanded its range of Apelo Underwater Lights with the Apelo Lighting Ecosystem. The company says this new integrated system provides boat owners with an intuitive and synchronised lighting solution.

Ansgar Hinrichs, global sales manager of the Hella marine brand, says that the system was developed in direct response to customers asking for a better way to control the company’s RGB/W underwater lights. “Integration onboard is more important than ever, and as a system supplier, we saw the need for a connected, user-friendly solution. The Apelo Light Controller is our first step in building a complete, branded ecosystem under Hella marine—connecting underwater, interior, flood, and courtesy lighting through one intelligent platform.”

The lighting ecosystem includes the new lighting controller, an advanced mobile app, and additional RGB/W lighting options such as the Apelo RGB Step Lamp and the EuroLED 75 RGB/W downlight. All three will be available globally from Q2 2025. In 2022, the company added distributors in Europe and expanded through the US Midwest.

Hinrichs says that primary customers – OEMs and boatbuilders around the world – will benefit from integrating the powerful, flexible lighting system into their vessels.

“We expect the USA, Europe, and APAC to account for at least 50 per cent of all vessels built globally when it comes to lighting ecosystems. From a global perspective, we estimate that approximately 20 per cent of demand will come from the retrofit market, which is expected to increase steadily thanks to the product’s modular design, ease of installation, and the rising trend toward smart onboard upgrades.”

Hinrichs says the installation time will be significantly reduced, thanks to its simple setup and no additional cabling required.

“Retrofit customers represent a valuable and growing segment. With its easy installation and user-friendly control via the Apelo app, the system is ideally suited for owners looking to upgrade their onboard lighting with minimal effort and maximum impact.”

The light controller is the central component of the system, enabling users to personalise lighting effects. That means owners can adjust single lights or create synchronised colour patterns across an entire boat. And, the controller provides both manual switch control and advanced wireless management. Basically, it allows seamless wireless control of all Apelo RGB/W underwater, interior, flood, and courtesy lamps, along with other universal RGB products. Leveraging Bluetooth Mesh technology, multiple controllers and lights can be grouped, customised, and synchronised effortlessly. This means, boat owners can enjoy wireless control without additional wiring — an ideal solution for both new installations and retrofits.

The controller goes beyond RGB lighting, says Hella. Switch control functionality allows it to manage single and dual-color lights from other Hella marine ranges, including the EuroLED range, Sea Hawk floodlights (details of the latter can be found on the company’s website), and Light Bars.

Meanwhile, the Apelo app provides a user-friendly interface to manage lighting groups, access preset modes, and design custom colour sequences from a smartphone.

“With the launch of the Apelo Lighting Ecosystem, we are delivering an innovative and connected lighting solution that enhances the onboard experience for boat owners,” says Hinrichs . “This expansion reflects our commitment to providing high-quality, cutting-edge lighting systems that are easy to install, control, and enjoy.”

Hella marine’s new lighting products are set to complement the system. The RGB step lamp is a compact solution for illuminating steps and gangways with vibrant, dynamic colours while the euroLED 75 RGB/W downlight offers full-spectrum RGB lighting plus cool white (5000K) illumination.

Hella marine is a brand of Forvia Hella. That’s been developing lighting solutions for maritime and commercial traffic since 1925.