Automotive Elastomers & Part

Continental’s group sector ContiTech has officially started production at its new hydraulics manufacturing facility in Aguascalientes, Mexico. The $90
million investment represents a major step in the company’s strategy to strengthen local supply chains, increase regional production capacity and bring innovative fluid power solutions closer to customers in the region.

The new 900,000 square feet site will manufacture high-performance hydraulic hoses for a wide range of industrial and mobile applications, including construction, agriculture, mining and energy sectors.

Hutchinson’s solution involved the creation of two new materials: revea® TPE 428, which contains 37% biobased, biosourced, or recycled ingredients, and revea® TPE 426, which contains 29% biobased, biosourced, or recycled ingredients. These materials deliver the desired properties for various window seals, offering substantial CO2 savings—25% reduction with revea® TPE 428 and 16% with revea® TPE 426 compared to traditional materials.

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies announced it has acquired Seal Aftermarket Products (SAP), LLC., a Florida-based, aftermarket company that sells automotive transmission kits and components. SAP will be integrated into Freudenberg Sealing Technologies’ Corteco Division. SAP sells a comprehensive line of automatic transmission rebuild kits, hard parts, components, electronic products, and specialty tools. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

A total of 10,400 kilometers were driven on Pirelli’s Stella Bianca tires – a reissue of the 1927 originals – with a car dating back to 1929 on a road trip to the most northerly point in Europe, without the need for a tire change. The epic journey was undertaken by a 1929 OM 665 Superba on Collezione tires, a range dedicated to historic collector cars from the 1920s to today. Setting off from Poggibonsi near Siena, the car driven by its owner Gianni Morandi and co-driver Marco Morosinotto, officially started its odyssey from Pirelli’s HQ in Milan. It arrived in Norway’s North Cape following a 15-day trip, returning to Italy after another two weeks. The whole adventure was undertaken using scenic routes, without a single kilometer of motorway. This was a landmark journey for Pirelli’s Stella Bianca tire, which has exactly the same vintage look as the original, but now uses materials and technologies that ensure greater safety.

By 2030, well over 100 million electric cars are expected to be on the roads worldwide. To make electromobility more efficient in the future, nearly all manufacturers are working to increase range and reduce charging times. High-performance batteries are one of the priorities in this development. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies assists manufacturers by providing innovative solutions that increase cell reliability – solutions that contribute to a longer cycle life, greater design flexibility and advances in cell design. With its cell caps and cell envelopes, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies now has two products ready for series production.