Schaeffler Joins Low Carbon Vehicle Cluster

Schaeffler, a manufacturer of precision bearings and automotive engine components, has joined the Welsh Automotive Forum's Low Carbon Vehicle Cluster (LCVC). Set up in January 2010, the LCVC currently has 22 member companies, which share their skills, experiences and resources in order to help each other address specific technical, manufacturing and marketing issues.

Member companies observe and adopt best practices from other members that will lead to improved processes and systems. Other member companies include Connaught Engineering, a developer of hybrid drive technologies, Melloy, an aluminium castings supplier, and Glamorgan University's Faculty of Advanced Technology. 'The cluster is open to any company in Wales that can demonstrate that it has developed or is manufacturing low-carbon vehicle or infrastructure technologies or that it has adopted low-carbon technologies in order to reduce manufacturing carbon emissions,' said Tim Williams, chief executive officer of the Welsh Automotive Forum and member of the LCVC's management group.

Schaeffler has already developed bearing solutions that are helping automotive manufacturers produce more compact, lighter vehicles, with improved fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions. These products include the FAG wheel bearing, which is more compact and 10 per cent lighter than its predecessor. The new bearing also offers simplified mounting via a self-centring axial spur gear teeth design.

Schaeffler also collaborated with Fiat Powertrain on the development of an engine system that reduces vehicle fuel consumption and cuts CO2 emissions by up to 25 per cent. The Uniair system is a fully variable hydraulic valve control system that is making its debut on the Alfa Romeo Mito 1.4 Multiair. Other low-carbon developments at Schaeffler include the INA lightweight balancer shaft and rolling bearing assembly, as well as the 'twin-tandem' wheel bearing unit.

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