New generation of lightweight air springs

ContiTech Air Spring Systems has developed a new generation of lightweight air springs to help manufacturers reduced overall vehicle weight.

Whether in buses, trucks or trailers, weight reduction is the trend in the commercial vehicle sector. Leading manufacturers are eager to continue slimming down vehicles to up carrying capacity and comply with emissions standards such as EURO 5 and EURO 6.

“This is why ContiTech Air Spring Systems has developed a new generation of lightweight air springs. At the very least, they equal conventional air springs in quality and performance,” explains Diethelm Bauch, head of the Commercial Vehicle Original Equipment segment at ContiTech Air Spring Systems. Reduced weight means lower fuel consumption and a concomitant drop in CO2 emission. ContiTech’s new lightweight technology thus contributes in a major way to energy efficiency.

ContiTech’s innovative lightweight technology dramatically reduces the weight of air spring systems. Moreover, it also makes them a significant more corrosion-resistant and durable. The plastic components used are considerably sturdier than their predecessors. “The new generation of lightweight air springs marks a significant technological advance. It represents a sustainable increase in performance,” Mr. Bauch explains.

Lightweight components are making ever deeper inroads into the air spring replacement business, too. The component’s low weight paves the way to effective fuel savings and increased payload. “Our replacement market customers also stand to benefit from our close cooperation with leading original equipment manufacturers,” says Dirk Hoffmeister, head of the Commercial Vehicle Replacement Equipment segment at ContiTech Air Spring Systems. On the open market for replacement parts, ContiTech offers original air springs developed for original equipment. They are manufactured in identical form for the replacement market as well. These include a host of air spring systems with plastic pistons that are thus also available on the open replacement parts market. On the basis of the OEM partner’s original parts number, the plastic air springs of the respective air spring systems can easily be matched up with the appropriate vehicle application.