ContiTech Vibration Control - the strut mount specialist based in Hanover in Germany - has developed a strut mount in which fiberglass-reinforced BASF Ultramid polyamide is also used as the primary structural component. It is the first strut mount made of this material, which is used both at the front and rear axle in the chassis environment of passenger cars.
The strut mount offers significant advantages over traditional variants made from steel or aluminum: a weight reduction of around 25 percent and a longer service life. At the same time, a highly insulating rubber element enhances ride comfort. In collaboration with General Motors LLC, ContiTech developed the strut mount for the new Cadillac CT6, which is set to be launched on the market at the end of 2015.
"High-performance plastics are the material of the future in the automotive industry," says Kai Frühauf, who heads ContiTech Vibration Control. "Thanks to our many years of experience and extensive materials expertise, we are among the top partners when it comes to innovative new developments with this material. This strut mount designed for passenger car bodies represents another step forward."
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