Trelleborg - World Class Skills Ensure a Smooth Ride

Modern cars are designed to minimise noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). The better a vehicle's NVH characteristics, the greater its competitive edge. Trelleborg Automotive in the West Midlands is a world leader in designing and manufacturing air suspension systems to give a smoother ride. It was the first company to pioneer electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS), as Sales and Marketing Manager, Keith Allen explains:

"In the 1980s, we developed a car suspension system that could be adjusted electronically to give variable ride heights. Land Rover was the first manufacturer to recognise the benefits of this revolutionary system. In 1993, it launched the Range Rover Classic with ECAS. It could be lowered for ease of access or raised to increase ground clearance during off-roading. The development potential for ECAS is enormous. The Disability Discrimination Act requires public vehicles to be accessible for everyone, which presents a significant opportunity for an electronically controlled suspension system. All car manufacturers are constantly looking for improvements in handling and fuel consumption and ECAS can deliver that."

Trelleborg is in no doubt that being located in the automotive heart of the UK is a key factor in its success:

"We can design, develop and manufacture bespoke air suspension systems, including the hardware and software required for the electronic control unit. That level of expertise only comes with extensive engineering experience and highly specialised knowledge. The West Midlands has some of the best educational establishments anywhere in the UK, including Coventry University and Warwick University. We also have the Motor Industry Research Association on the outskirts of Nuneaton. The level of skill and knowledge here is outstanding."

In the face of increased competition from Eastern Europe for manufacturing, it is this development expertise that enables Trelleborg to remain highly competitive. The company already supplies rear air suspension units for General Motors' Hummer H2 and is in the process of developing a state-of-the-art 4-point system for future vehicles. It recently won a contract to supply Isuzu in Japan on the strength of its ability to design and develop airsprings to the company's precise requirements. And, whether the company is supplying a customer in Yokahama or Yorkshire, the benefit of being located at the centre of UK transport links is clear:

"In effect, the UK's motorway system resembles an H. We are located on the crossbar of the H, where the M42 joins the M6, the M5 and the M1. It is an excellent position for sending and receiving road shipments anywhere in Europe or further afield."

Predicting the future of the global car market doesn't require a crystal ball. Improved ride, reduced noise and vibration will always feature highly on the manufacturers' list of priorities. Trelleborg is currently looking at ways of reducing the size of its airsprings through the development of high pressure variants which, with improved packaging, will provide increased passenger space inside the vehicle. It is also developing a thin-walled airspring material, with reduced hysteresis, that can operate at high temperatures within the engine compartment.

"Many of our competitors sell standard, off the shelf components," concludes Keith. "If a company wants an air suspension designed to its exact requirements, we are virtually the only company in the world with the skill to design, develop and manufacture a complete bespoke system."

Interview given by Keith Allen, Sales and Marketing Manager.

For more information about Trelleborg visit www.trelleborg.com or telephone +44 (0)2476 293300