Every component counts when it comes to lightweighting

PLYMOUTH, Mich., July 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On the 50^th anniversary of the Center for Automotive Research's Management Briefing Seminars (CAR MBS), Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is contributing to the important conversation of vehicle lightweighting by spotlighting a seal that that weighs 40 percent less than conventional seals and requires only half as much space to install.

Lightweighting will be just one of many topics the venerable CAR MBS conference will explore Aug. 3-6 in Traverse City, Mich.  While Freudenberg-NOK will sponsor a cocktail hour at the event in honor of its 50^th anniversary, it's the company's BlueSeal component that could help customers achieve lightweighting objectives in their vehicle designs.

Freudenberg-NOK's BlueSeal has been uniquely engineered in response to many of the industry's market trends, mainly CO₂ reduction, but also downsizing and turbocharging. Made from PTFE, the seal weighs 40 percent less than a conventional radial shaft seal and has been designed to withstand harsh engine fluids while providing an axial space reduction which allows manufacturers to downsize the engine. The seal has a low-friction Power Optimized Polytetrafluoroethylene (POP^®) lip design which insures smaller dissipation loss, reduces the temperature in the contact area between the seal and shaft, and performs flawlessly under different engine conditions.

Specifically:

• The BlueSeal is made of a single material – PTFE – which is fully compatible with oils and fuels and fits global use in different regions.
• It offers a downsized design which requires a minimum height for installation that is 50 percent less than traditional seals. The design is more compact than anything else offered on the market.
• The BlueSeal maintains a small dissipation loss, temperature reduction in the contact area and good performance in myriad engine conditions. It offers customers higher efficiency, reduced wear to the shaft and a reduction of oil carbonization.
• The seal is 40 percent lighter than traditional seals, which contributes to a reduction in CO2.
• The BlueSeal increases durability through its perfect sealing behavior and has a higher resistance to pressure than traditional seal designs.

"Vehicle manufacturers are looking at every possible way to increase fuel efficiency and reduce weight," said Jeff Nelson, senior director, Automotive, Freudenberg-NOK. "Even the smallest components can have a dramatic impact on the function and efficiency of vehicle powertrains and our BlueSeal is a solid example of the kind of engineered solutions that our company offers the industry through our Low Emission Sealing Solutions (LESS) family of products."

Other solutions to lightweighting also exist in the LESS product line. Freudenberg-NOK has been able to build its expertise in the area of lightweight construction through its joint venture with the Schneegans Group. This partnership has allowed the company to leverage Schneegans' expertise in two- or multi-component injection molding. Examples of this technology include the 3D-form full-plastic tubes for oil dip sticks and oil filler necks. These components allow the tight space in the engine compartment to be optimally used. In the case of 2K plastic pump housings, seals can be injected directly for oil and water circuits for added functional security. The same is true for housings with seals integrated into their covers with a 2K design; they absorb dynamic stresses and can provide tolerance compensation even during significant temperature swings.

"We congratulate the CAR MBS organizers on 50 years of outstanding conferences and look forward to 50 more," said Nelson. "The CAR MBS always offers participants a tremendous opportunity to discuss the latest developments in critical topics like lightweighting. It's a true networking conference that often leads to new ideas, new approaches and new collaborative alliances that help move our industry forward."

About Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies is the Americas joint venture between Freudenberg and Co. in Germany and NOK Corp. in Japan. Freudenberg-NOK is a leading producer of advanced sealing technologies for a variety of markets including: aerospace; agriculture; appliance; automotive; construction; diesel engine; energy; food and beverage; heavy industry; and pharmaceutical. Founded in 1989 under the legal name Freudenberg-NOK General Partnership, Freudenberg-NOK is headquartered in Plymouth, Mich. and operates more than 20 facilities across the Americas. For additional information, please visit www.fnst.com.

SOURCE Freudenberg-NOK Sealing Technologies

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