ContiTech air springs bring aftermarket advantages
Continental has outlined the lightweight credentials of its ContiTech air spring range for Euro VI truck applications.
“New trucks in Europe with Euro VI emissions standard are good for the environment and the climate, because the standard means that trucks are significantly restricted in the particles and nitrogen oxides they are allowed to emit,” said the company.
“In order to meet the standard, truck manufacturers must design their vehicles to be as light as possible – in spite of the extra weight caused by additional exhaust gas treatment systems. After all, less weight means less fuel consumption and emissions.
“Lightweight construction is therefore an absolute top priority for truck manufacturers. But what happens when individual components have to be replaced after a few years of operation?”
If the replacement components are heavier than the original equipment parts, says Continental, emissions will also rise again, and the Euro VI advantages will be lost. To prevent this, the company offers an extensive range of lightweight axle air springs for the aftermarket.
“In these components, metal parts such as the steel pistons are replaced by lighter but equally durable plastic parts,” it explained.
“The fitting and the way the pistons are attached have also been optimised. Injection moulding, combined with a high-performance joining process, means that the entire internal volume of the piston can be used. All this results in a weight saving of several hundred grams compared to the standard component.”
Because several air springs are installed in a large truck, depending on the type of air spring used, a weight saving of several kilos can quickly be achieved, the firm adds, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Continental‘s portfolio currently includes more than 80 types for the Euro VI models of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturers. All the ContiTech-brand air springs for the aftermarket are listed at the website below, together with technical data and drawings. Here users, developers and sales partners can find the right air spring type for the relevant application.
With fuel costs accounting for by far the largest share of total costs over the entire life cycle of a truck, reducing weight is a worthwhile goal, the firm adds.
Bastian Dobrick, sales manager in charge of the aftermarket for air spring business in the EMEA region, said: “Our calculations based on average consumption and mileage show that fuel costs of more than €50,000 are incurred every year.
“In view of falling freight yields, any form of weight saving is therefore worth hard cash for operators.“
A further cited advantage is that if operators use lightweight components for spare parts, the reduced weight of the entire vehicle unit gives them a greater range and more payload capacity, and accordingly more efficient operation – an important consideration with electric powertrains in particular, in order to compensate for the extra weight of the heavy battery cells.
