Continental & Schaeffler collaborate for new turbo
The Continental Automotive Group has recently announced a collaboration with the Schaeffler Group for the series production of a new generation of petrol engine turbochargers. Developed by the Engine Systems Business Unit of Continental’s Powertrain Division, the new charger is set to commence production in 2011, with plans to reach an annual production capacity of 2 million units by 2014. It is designed to allow for fully automated assembly, which Continental claims to offer advantages in terms of production quality and cost.
“This collaboration is the result of Continental’s successful search for a strong partner to complete the final development phase and put the turbocharger into series production. It means we will be profiting from Schaeffler’s extensive mechanical expertise”, explained Dr. Peter Gutzmer, head of the aforementioned Engine Systems Business Unit.
The scope of collaboration between the two parties are being revealed as such: Continental shall be responsible for integrating the turbocharger into the vehicle manufacturers’ engine systems, and for application development, product engineering, purchasing, sales and quality, whereas Schaeffler will provide support in the final development phase and will assume full responsibility for industrialization.
Revealed details of the turbocharger specify a 38mm-diameter turbine designed to spin at speeds up to 240,000 rpm. Such specification levels calls for a high level of fit and finish of the various moving parts, and Continental has expressed its confidence in that the Schaeffler Group’s possess sufficient technical prowess to meet these demands.
Schaeffler’s site at Lahr, Germany, shall serve as the ‘Centre of Excellence’ for the process development and the transfer of know-how to other production sites. The Schaeffler Group’s mechanical engineering department will be tasked to design the assembly line and production facilities. Additionally, Continental also plans to further leverage on the Schaeffler Group’s massive worldwide presence to ensure speedy response to orders.
With European manufacturers increasingly favouring forced induction over large displacement, Continental’s development of this new turbocharger certainly couldn’t be timelier. According to Dr. Gutzmer “turbocharging gasoline engines is becoming ever more important since it is the only way to achieve the downsizing of engines that is essential to the reduction of fuel consumption.”
Continental’s maiden attempt at developing a turbo was completed in a record time of three years, with work being spread out between the company’s two sites at Grünstadt in Rhineland-Palatinate and Regensburg in Bavaria. The turbo is designed for assembly along a fully automated single axis production line, a setup which Continental claims to simultaneously deliver lower defect rates, cost benefits and increased volume. It is also further claimed to be vastly scalable and easily adaptable for various engine sizes.
KON
