Trucks to benefit from passenger car weight breakthrough15 January 2010

ContiTech, the division of Continental AG with responsibility for technical developments in rubber and plastics, has confirmed it is developing plastic parts to replace steel and aluminium components in trucks.

"Our core competence is in mounting systems, especially engine mounts, transmission cross beams and torque reaction mounts," says Hans-Juergen Karkosch, head of advanced development at ContiTech Vibration Control.

"We are interested in new designs for engine mounts for trucks, and this is the area where we will go in the future. We have a 50% weight saving [over aluminium] in the parts for passenger cars, and we believe that the same will be possible in truck applications," he adds.

The company, which has already produced more than 15 different parts for passenger car manufacturers, such as General Motors, Porsche AG and BMW AG – the latest being the transmission cross beam for BMW – says it is confident that the technology will bring significant weight saving and maintenance advantages to tractive units, rigids and trailers.

Author
John Challen

Related Companies
Contitech UK Ltd

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