ESSEN,
Germany and NOVI, Mich. /PRNewswire/ -- ThyssenKrupp
Carbon Components and Maxion Wheels have established a cooperation
agreement to develop and market innovative new ultra-lightweight
aluminum and carbon fiber hybrid wheels for the premium vehicle OEM
market. The combined expertise of ThyssenKrupp, a leading
global automotive components supplier and innovator in carbon fiber
applications and lightweight materials, with Maxion Wheels, the
world's largest and most innovative wheel manufacturer, will offer
customers exceptional performance benefits at an attractive price
point.
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The
combined technologies could generate a weight savings of up to 40%
when compared to high performance forged aluminum wheels and at the
same time offer high value styling. The ThyssenKrupp
Carbon Components – Maxion Wheels team will work with OEMs to
develop custom solutions to meet their specific needs.
"With
carbon fiber-aluminum hybrid wheels we offer a unique option to our
customers in the luxury and sports car segment to differentiate
themselves through technology and design. The cooperation agreement
with Maxion Wheels marks an important milestone in the development
of our carbon fiber wheel technology. It shows the
technological maturity we have reached and combines our innovations
with the leading player in the wheel industry.
Commercialization is the logical next step," says
Dr. Jens
Werner, Managing Director at ThyssenKrupp Carbon
Components.
Based
on the developments of ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components in carbon
fiber hybrid wheels, with its unique braiding technology, the
partners have built and extensively tested prototypes for use on
luxury cars and SUVs. Testing took place at certified Maxion
Wheels test labs. In addition, the ThyssenKrupp – Maxion
Wheels team is working with the Volkswagen Group to test prototypes
on a vehicle. Public road tests have shown improved
performance, e.g superior damping which leads to less vibration and
road noise.
Maxion
Wheels and ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components will continue to enhance
the value proposition of the lightweight aluminum and carbon fiber
hybrid wheels. As an important contribution Maxion will bring
their innovative liquid-forged aluminum discs to the cooperation,
which offers comparable material properties as traditionally forged
wheels at lower cost and at the full design flexibility of casted
wheels.
"The
aluminum/carbon fiber hybrid wheels we develop through our
cooperation with ThyssenKrupp will fill an important niche in the
ultra-lightweight vehicle market," says Kai
Kronenberg, Vice President of Business Development &
Global Innovation at Maxion Wheels. "It will benefit our
customers by expanding our already extensive range of products and
capabilities, while enhancing our leadership position in the
industry."
The
ThyssenKrupp Carbon Components – Maxion Wheels cooperation will
include the development and commercialization of the
ultra-lightweight aluminum/carbon fiber hybrid wheels. A joint
sales initiative and support team will engage the market to bring
new capabilities and wheels that will benefit customers far into
the future.
About
ThyssenKrupp:
ThyssenKrupp is a diversified industrial group with traditional
strengths in materials and a growing share of capital goods and
services businesses. Around 155,000 employees in nearly 80
countries work with passion and technological expertise to develop
high-quality products and intelligent industrial processes and
services for sustainable progress. Their skills and commitment are
the basis of the Group's success. In fiscal year 2013/2014
ThyssenKrupp generated sales of around €41 billion.
About
Maxion Wheels
Maxion
Wheels produces wheels for passenger cars, light trucks and
commercial trucks and trailers. The Company also produces steel
wheels for military, agricultural and other off-highway
applications. With more than 100 years of wheel-making experience
and just over 10.000 employees globally, Maxion is the world's
largest wheel manufacturer, currently producing 65 million wheels
per year and generating Sales of over 2 billion
USD. The Company serves global OEM customers from 21
operations in 12 countries on 5 continents, and has
state-of-the-art technical centers in the
Americas, Europe and
Asia. Visit our website at www.maxionwheels.com.