Alcoa has opened a new Automotive Centre in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA. At the same time the company announced that it has been awarded more than a dozen new product applications by some of the most respected brands in the automotive industry.
The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) has filed a charge against Continental Tire North America (CTNA) to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The union alleges that the suspension of tyre production at the company’s Mayfield, Kentucky facility, scheduled for the end of this year, is illegal. The steelworkers association claims that the federal government should halt the proposed action.
AST, the Dutch car suspension company, has developed a new performance product. The new AST Adjustable Top Mount, allows simple modification of camber to the optimum position, improving road holding and cornering ability.
This is achieved by adjusting the aircraft standard bearing in the bracket. Because the bearing descends from the aircraft industry, it is able to withstand the high forces encountered on the road or race track.
The Top Mount is available for a wide range of performance cars.
Maha has developed a new Profi test lane for workshops and MOT stations. The test lane will check brakes, suspension and tracking, and offers a print out of results within five minutes.
The test lane also features a large analogue and digital display with automatic or manual test programmes and is fully MOT approved for both class four and seven.
Profi can be linked to Maha’s range of lifts to complete the MOT bay. The Maha lifts, 4 poster, scissor and below floor, are all to the MOT specification and can befitted with play detectors, jacking beam, turn plates and recessed if required.
Wheel manufacturer Superior Industries has released its first quarter 2004 results. Turnover was up 10.7 per cent to an all-time high of $234.19 million. Net income fell to $13.667 million, compared with $22.266 million in 1Q 2003. Superior’s aluminium suspension components business made a loss of $2.9 million, while the company’s share of profits from its wheel manufacturing joint venture SUOFTEC in Hungary was $2.17 million, due largely to the favourable currency exchange rate.
Hayes Lemmerz International’s commercial highway and aftermarket group signed a long-term deal to provide iron hubs and brake drums to Hendrickson Trailer Suspension Systems for trailer applications. Hayes Lemmerz will also expand the supply of brake drums and hubs to Hendrickson Trailer for lightweight vehicle applications.
Hayes Lemmerz International has announced that its Commercial Highway & Aftermarket Group has a long term agreement with Hendrickson Trailer Suspension Systems. This agreement covers the supply of Ductile Iron hubs and CentruCast brake drums for HN and HP trailer applications as well as product development of future wheel-end components for the On Highway Transportation Industry. Additionally, Hayes Lemmerz will continue to expand supply of Genuine CentriFuse Brake Drums and Centrulite Hubs to Hendrickson Trailer Suspension Systems for lightweight applications.
Aston Martin has chosen the Pirelli P Zero Rosso tyre as OE for its prestigious, limited edition DB7 Zagato. Based on the DB7 Vantage, but with more power, the hand-built Zagato has uprated brakes, sports suspension and an all-new two-seater aluminium coupe body.
Goodyear and TRW Automotive have signed a five-year agreement for a joint study of tyres, braking, suspension and steering systems. Goodyear will share its design and manufacturing expertise in conventional and EMT run-flat tyres, while TRW is a leader in the design of braking, steering and suspension systems. Both companies said they were excited about the potential for product improvement and development which the agreement would bring.
DaimlerChrysler has announced three recalls in North America, involving 1.2 million vehicles. The first involves 1.06 million LHS, 300M and Concorde models in the USA and 135,000 in Canada, after an investigation revealed that seat recliner bolts may loosen due to premature wear. Recall number two involves 23,000 Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 diesel trucks, for reprogramming of the engine control software. The final recall affects 11,655 Chrysler and Plymouth Prowlers and replacement of the lower ball joint on the front suspension which may be in danger of separation because of corrosion.
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, and the Michelin Group, Clermont-Ferrand, have established a joint venture company for integrated vehicle dynamics management systems. The new company is called Integrated Safety Systems ISS and is based in Paris. The purpose of the joint venture company is the market introduction of new systems resulting from the partners’ joint development activities. In 2001, both companies had announced their cooperation in the fields of tires and chassis control systems, with the objective to improve safety and mobility of automobiles thanks to an optimized coupling between tire and electronic brake control technologies. Bosch produces automotive technology in 140 plants on all 5 continents. In 2001, it achieved sales of € 23.2 billion in this business sector, with 143 000 employees. Last year, the Bosch division chassis systems, a leading manufacturer of braking systems, had 18 000 employees and achieved sales of around € 4.5 billion. Michelin produces and sells tires for all kind of vehicles, including passenger car, light and heavy trucks, 2-wheels, aircraft, agricultural and earthmover vehicles, as well as the US space shuttle, and develops suspension and anti-vibration systems. Michelin counts 80 production sites in 5 continents, has 130 000 employees and sales operations in over 170 countries. The Group achieved around € 15,8 billion sales in 2001.
TRW Automotive has opened a new 15,000 square metre state of the art braking friction manufacturing facility dedicated to the aftermarket. The 15 million Euro investment at Olvega, in Spain’s Castilla-Leon region, has been opened in to meet demand for TRW’s breakthrough heavy metal free Lucas brake pads. TRW now has nine dedicated European aftermarket manufacturing sites in addition to 23 OE braking, steering and suspension plants, supporting the company’s ambition to have the best original equipment based chassis systems programme in the aftermarket. Currently, production at Olvega is running at almost two million pad sets a year; at full capacity, the site will produce in excess of five million pad sets annually. The plant employs 200 workers.
TRW’s steering and suspension components currently marketed under licence by Federal Mogul, are to be sold under the TRW brand. Martin Hendricks, director and general manager for TRW Automotive Aftermarket Europe said, “We have a clear branding strategy – Lucas for braking and TRW for steering and suspension. Our OE position and the reputation for excellence for Lucas braking and TRW steering and suspension makes this an obvious direction for us.”
Continental Automotive Systems and Volkswagen have developed the Phaeton – with a chassis system with all-round semi-active variable control pneumatic suspension. The Electronic Air Suspension (EAS) resolves the differences between optimal handling and comfort by calculating and establishing the correct suspension force required every 10 – 15 milliseconds. The system is an integral element of a chassis solution incorporating engine management, brake control and stability control.
Superior Industries International has reported that net income for the first quarter of 2002 has exceeded analyst expectations with revenue and shipments reaching record highs. For the first quarter 2002 net income increased by 7.6 per cent or 0.65 dollars per diluted share. Shipments of aluminium wheels increased by 16 per cent bringing revenue for the first quarter to 186,532,000 dollars, a record for the company and a 12.3 per cent increase on the same quarter for 2001. The results include the write off on non-recurring start up costs of 1.653 million dollars in respect of the launch of the new aluminium suspension parts operation. The joint venture wheel manufacturing operation in Hungary also posts profitable results.
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