APPLICATION TECHNOLOGY
New top coats for automotive sector
As part of its GEOMET® zinc flake anti-corrosion
technology, NOF METAL COATINGS EUROPE has proposed two new topcoats intended for fasteners - PLUS® VLh and GEOKOTE®
The evolution of PLUS® VLh NOF METAL COATINGS EUROPE explains that for many years
one of the major standards of the German car industry has been the PLUS®
VL applied onto a GEOMET® 321 grade A coating,
which combines excellent performance regarding anti-corrosion and control of tightening, all for a very competitive price. Today, the obligation to reduce vehicle weights in order to
decrease CO2 emissions leads to widespread use of light alloys. The PLUS® VLh topcoat improves performances linked to friction
for difficult tightening cases, particularly for multi-tightening in aluminium and onto catophoretic paint. It is also effective in cases of loosening at high temperatures, while avoiding stick-slip problems when tightening. The PLUS®
VLh topcoat can be applied in one coat onto the GEOMET® 321 grade A coating. It can be used for all fasteners
and meets new expectations of the German automotive industry with whom an approval process has been initiated.
GEOKOTE® The GEOKOTE®
: Future solution against chemical attack topcoat is currently used in mass production
for external car parts (locks for doors and engine bonnets). It has been developed to meet requirements regarding resistance
. Both topcoats comply with the latest technical
evolutions in the car industry, particularly regarding the reduction of car weights, increased use of light alloys and concern for the environment.
to chemicals (hydrochloric, phosphoric, sulfuric acids) and repetitive abrasion. NOF METAL COATINGS EUROPE highlights that the excellent results obtained enable it to propose the GEOKOTE®
topcoat from now on for new applications, for
instance for fasteners (screws, nuts, clamping clips, etc). The GEOKOTE®
topcoat provides with a thin layer optimal
corrosion resistance and assembly properties. It also enables the avoidance of the stick-slip effect occurring when tightening. GEOKOTE®
is available in black, clear and in other shades
enabling the identification of parts. It can be applied either by dip-spin or by spray on the existing lines of NOF METAL COATINGS EUROPE’s global applicators network.
Environment friendly technologies NOF METAL COATINGS EUROPE points out that its coatings
differ from its competitors’ products because its technology is based on a water-based and low VOC content chemical. NOF METAL COATINGS EUROPE’s innovations and awareness
for the environment and human health has been recognised twice by major awards: The Pierre Potier prize and Europe Responsible Care®
prize.
www.nofmetalcoatings.com Added brake pad performance
Lesjöfors says that thanks to its extensive knowledge of materials, high expertise and a proactive approach it has been able to develop a brake pad spring in a lighter, stainless material, which also extended the product’s lifespan.
H
aldex is a global producer of advanced braking and suspension systems for the commercial vehicle industry. Some years ago Lesjöfors in Värnamo, Sweden, offered a spring to Haldex used for the
brake pads in heavy goods vehicles.
Opportunities for further development Lesjöfors’ development engineers noted in the process that
Haldex’s former spring system was fully functional but not optimal from a number of aspects. Thanks to the Lesjöfors team’s good record of high-strength stainless steel materials, opportunities to improve the performance of the spring were identified with an unchanged cost level. Haldex showed great interest in the further development of the brake pad spring.
Lighter component in cost-efficient production With solid knowledge of various spring materials combined
with resources for calculations, testing and prototype development, Lesjöfors’ design engineers were able to develop and refine the design and execution of the spring. The end result was a spring in stainless steel where no costly hardening or surface
treatment was required. The product is also lighter as the material dimension has been reduced from 1.8mm to 1mm. “The end product was preceded by a development process
of about 1.5 years, where we, in close cooperation with Haldex, continuously tested the spring and finally found our way. We have been able to deliver an ideal solution that exceeded the customer’s high demands without changing the cost structure, which we are extremely proud and happy of,” said Marcus Hartvigsson, technical manager at Lesjöfors.
In addition, longer lifespan Lesjöfors points out that not only did the brake pad spring
become lighter, it has also been given a longer life. The spring now lives 50 percent longer than the previous component in carbon steel. This summer the product went into production and is now in use in the Haldex product. “We are delighted about our partnership with Lesjöfors.
Thanks to their ideas, knowledge and experience we have been able to improve our disc brake product, which ultimately benefits our end customers both from an environmental and a cost perspective,” says Anders Lindqvist, project manager at Haldex.
138 Fastener + Fixing Magazine • Issue 78 November 2012
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