BorgWarner Grows Agricultural and Construction Business for Friction Technology

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- After leading the automotive industry in designing and producing wet friction materials for more than 50 years, BorgWarner's advanced technologies are gaining customers in the agricultural and construction market. Building on its European market presence, BorgWarner entered the North American market a few years ago. Since then, BorgWarner has launched a variety of new friction plates for John Deere and CNH America LLC with total volumes of nearly two million parts a year. BorgWarner's friction plates are used in transmissions, differentials, power take-off units and wet brakes for drive axles on vehicles such as tractors, combines and front-end loaders.

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"Driven by demand for BorgWarner's advanced technologies, we anticipate more than 50% growth in BorgWarner's friction products for the agricultural and construction market during the next five years," said John Sanderson, President and General Manager, BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems. "With our design, development and testing capabilities, BorgWarner delivers custom engineering support for almost any application. Our innovative materials, groove patterns and finishing techniques are once again setting new standards in performance and durability."

To address the specific performance requirements of the agricultural and construction market, BorgWarner developed new high-static coefficient friction materials. These new materials boost break-away characteristics, allowing the friction plate to hold higher torque without slipping. In addition to improving torque capacity for better performance, higher static materials reduce weight, which helps increase fuel economy.

In another innovation, BorgWarner combined molded and full-depth groove patterns to disperse heat during engagement and help reduce drag. Multi-segmented designs optimize material utilization and lower costs, an important feature for friction plates that reach outside diameters of up to 20 inches and inside diameters of 12 inches.

About BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems

BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems produces highly engineered drivetrain technologies for the global vehicle industry. Key product segments include: dual clutch modules; wet friction clutch components and systems; mechatronic transmission control modules; electro-hydraulic solenoid valves; mechanical clutch assemblies; all-wheel drive couplings, transfer cases and software/controls; and electric vehicle transmissions. These systems improve fuel economy and performance while enhancing vehicle stability. BorgWarner Drivetrain Systems is a trusted supplier to virtually every major light vehicle and automatic transmission producer in the world today.

About BorgWarner

Auburn Hills, Michigan-based BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE: BWA) is a product leader in highly engineered components and systems for vehicle powertrain applications worldwide. The company operates manufacturing and technical facilities in 60 locations in 18 countries. Customers include VW/Audi, Ford, Toyota, Renault/Nissan, General Motors, Hyundai/Kia, Daimler, Chrysler, Fiat, BMW, Honda, Deere and Company, PSA, and MAN. The Internet address for BorgWarner is: http://www.borgwarner.com.  

The friction technology leader in the automotive industry, BorgWarner has expanded its advanced expertise into the agricultural and construction market, producing a variety of new friction plates used in transmissions, differentials, power take-off units and wet brakes for drive axles on tractors, combines and front-end loaders made by John Deere and CNH America LLC.

Statements contained in this news release may contain forward-looking statements as contemplated by the 1995 Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that are based on management's current expectations, estimates and projections.  Words such as "outlook", "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed, projected or implied in or by the forward-looking statements.  Such risks and uncertainties include: fluctuations in domestic or foreign vehicle production, the continued use of outside suppliers, fluctuations in demand for vehicles containing our products, changes in general economic conditions, and other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Risk Factors, identified in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.  We do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

SOURCE BorgWarner Inc.