March 2017 heralds an exciting new chapter for parts specialist HELLA as it introduces a full filtration programme through a powerful alliance with original equipment manufacturer Hengst.

The agreement is a union between two longstanding and like-minded businesses. HELLA established in 1899 and Hengst in 1958 and both are OE manufacturers and system suppliers to the global automotive industry, acknowledged as award winning technological innovators as well as being leading companies in the independent aftermarket.

Commenting on the development, Andreas Habeck, responsible for the Aftermarket business at HELLA said, “This alliance with Hengst opens the doors for substantial business growth for both our companies and provides us with the perfect product to add to our portfolio, as it encompasses all that we value as an organisation. Hengst manufactures products of the highest quality, which means that we can continue to provide our customers with the reassurance that comes with a globally recognised OE brand and with a depth of range to satisfy their requirements.”

From April 2017, HELLA Hengst branded oil, air, fuel and cabin filters for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles will be only available. Commercial vehicle filters will still be available under the Hengst brand.

For Hengst Filtration, Christopher Heine, member of the Hengst board and responsible for the Aftermarket, Industrial Air Filtration and Finance, added, “We have entered into this alliance because it combines the best of two traditional companies. The HELLA Group has significant OE heritage and an outstanding service expertise dating back over 100 years and with almost 60 years’ presence we will now benefit from this local expertise. On the other hand, we incorporate an established product range and our filtration competence into the partnership.” He added, “Hengst Filter elements for the Independent Aftermarket meet the highest quality standards covering all models of cars. Filters that have been developed for use as OE are transferred to the Aftermarket program and constructed in the same way.”