Smart suspension parts Frauenthal Automotive

SMART SUSPENSION PARTS

Frauenthal Automotive GmbH produces suspension and air-braking system components at nine production sites in seven European countries for all leading European commercial vehicle manufacturers. Marco Siebel spoke with the market intelligence director, Bertrand Boivert, about the company’s energy-saving product innovations and market expectations.

Frauenthal Automotive is Europe’s market leader in all of its product groups: leaf springs, stabilisers, u-bolts and air tanks. Headquartered in Vienna, Frauenthal Automotive is one of two divisions of Frauenthal Holding AG. The group has ten production sites in Europe. Frauenthal Automotive employs over 1800 people.

Frauenthal Automotive offers springs ranging from 7kg to 400kg from parabolic springs to air suspension springs. From mono-leaf and multi-leaf springs to customised spring solutions, from the lightest LCV to the heaviest-load truck. with a maximum spring thickness up to 80mm and maximum length of 2400mm.

Less weight means higher payload

Every kilo counts in this business. By utilising increased stress-levels, a reduction of steel mass and the number of leaves, customers using Frauenthal Automotive leaf springs can save up to 100kg per truckload.

Bertrand Boivert said, “Starting in the 1890s with production, we have constantly been building our expertise in spring production and

development. Today we are Europe’s market leader in quantities of springs produced and collaborate with the leading European truck and trailer manufacturers to serve their needs. Since 1975 we have led the industry in supplying parabolic springs; since 1983, air suspension springs; since 1996, 3D air suspension springs and since 1999 front mono-leaf springs for heavy trucks. In 2005 we produced the first high-stress 7.5 ton front-axle monoleaf springs. Today we are Europe’s industry leader for supplying LCV, truck and trailer leaf springs – and we aim to be better every day.”

Space-saving and customised air tanks

Frauenthal Automotive air tanks have great potential to free up chassis space for the new parts, equipment and technologies driven by demanding emissions regulations. Whatever size or configuration customers need, the Frauenthal Automotive team of engineers provides the experience and technical know-how to create the steel or aluminium air tanks specified.

Bertrand Boivert said, “Our innovations allow customers to have their vehicles equipped with a diesel engine ready to substantially reduce their emissions of nitrogen oxides as soon as the Euro 6 standard enters into force, as of September 2014. Our customised, space-saving solutions include head-fixed mounting systems, and multi-chamber air tank systems. Our products can rightly be called smart products; their success is confirmed by the annual sales of more than 2,000,000 air tanks.” Individual weight-saving stabilisers

The stabiliser plays a key role in a bus and truck suspension by improving vehicle stability, handling and enhanced comfort in the curves. Frauenthal Automotive’s mainstay in truck suspension is the solid stabiliser, but it has also developed and produces tube stabilisers. The advantages of tube stabilisers are becoming increasingly important in all weight-critical applications in the new generation of trucks. Tube stabilisers are up to 45 per cent lighter and enable a significant reduction in both unsprung and total weight. Frauenthal Automotive’s expertise lies in medium to big diameter stabilisers, of which the company sells annually over 300,000, making it Europe’s industry leader for truck and bus stabilisers.

Bertrand Boivert said, “Frauenthal Automotive is the only supplier of both solid and tube stabilisers in the European truck market. For over three decades, we have been partnering with the truck and bus industry to provide more efficient suspension solutions. We have been producing solid stabilisers since 1981, and started producing tube stabilisers in 1993. Up to 45 per cent lighter, tube stabilisers enable a significant reduction in both unsprung and total weight. They help our customers to meet today’s fuel consumption challenge and the expectations of higher payloads.”

U-bolts

U-bolts carry the weighty responsibility for safety in all trucks, buses and trailers. Frauenthal Automotive produces suspension U-bolts using the most advanced technologies available, especially in the key manufacturing processes of thread rolling, heat treatment, bending and anticorrosion protection. Frauenthal Automotive supplies solely to original equipment manufacturers, adhering to standards ISO/ TS 16949:2002, ISO 14001:2004, and OHSAS 18001:2007. The company sells over 3,000,000 U-bolts each year.

Investments and market expectations

Bertrand Boivert concluded, “In October 2012 we doubled the production capacity of our Romanian leaf-spring factory, now able to produce up to 25.000 tonnes of leaf-springs per year. The company added 58 people to the existing staff. In November 2012, we acquired an air-tank factory in the Czech Republic, and the group’s strategy is based on further acquisitions. We have mainly been serving OEMs in Europe, Russia and Latin American countries, but we have also seen an increase in indirect sales to ‘completely knocked down’ manufacturers in Australia, South Africa and Malaysia.” n