PRODUCTS SPRINGS & SHOCK ABSORBERS NEW SHOCK ABSORBER OFFERS
‘CONFIDENCE-INSPIRING STABILITY’ TO HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTORCYCLE RIDERS
A SYNERGY BETWEEN
CLAMPING COMPONENTS AND SPRINGS & SHOCK ABSORBERS
Last April, Destaco joined the Stabilus Group, a union that brings forth products and services, particularly augmenting the field of automation with ACE, another Stabilus expert brand. ACE is renowned for its industrial gas springs, shock absorbers and air springs that control motion, regulate speeds and decelerate loads with precision. Destaco, on the other hand, has carved its niche with manual clamps, power clamps, robotic end-of-arm tools, grippers and indexers for automation. The synergy between Destaco’s gripping and clamping mastery with ACE’s motion control expertise spawns an unprecedented spectrum of innovative product offerings and advisory services, the company states. In the automotive industry, ACE’s shock absorbers and
Öhlins Racing’s first front fork for Harley- Davidson motorcycles, the American V-Twin 48 Blackline front fork, features the Öhlins STX Pro Blackline shock absorber. The American V-Twin 48 Blackline
fork marks the debut of Öhlins’ front- end suspension technology for Harley- Davidson. This, the company explains, features a weight- and stress-optimised fork bottom design for an ultra-smooth, comfortable ride. The fork incorporates Öhlins’ 30mm
NIX damping system, which isolates compression and rebound damping for enhanced precision and stability. The fork’s inner tubes are also treated with a titanium nitrate coating to reduce friction, contributing to an ultra-plush ride quality. Building on the success of the HD 044 model, the Öhlins STX Pro Blackline shock is said to offer several enhancements over
its predecessor. The shock features a sleek, all-black design with Öhlins’ signature gold details, including revamped billet adjuster knobs and reservoirs emblazoned with the iconic ‘Ö’ logo. The STX Pro Blackline is available in 12” and 13” dimensions, both with ½” ID bushings for easier installation. The shocks also include Öhlins-branded, anodized aluminium bracket arms for rear-mounted installation and a preload adjuster tool. Designed for late-model Harley Davidsons, the STX Pro Blackline shock is said to offer riders confidence-inspiring stability and handling, with enhanced small bump compliance for a smoother, more comfortable ride quality.
Öhlins Racing
ohlins.com
STREAMLINING SUSPENSION DEVELOPMENT
Tenneco’s Monroe Ride Solutions (MRS) business, a leading supplier of advanced suspension components and systems for automotive, commercial vehicle and other transportation markets, has won the Digital Engineering Awards program’s 2024 Digital Transformation of the Year Award. The MRS award entry, ‘Accelerating Suspension Development Through Neural
Networks,’ describes how Tenneco engineers utilise neural network-based simulation models to dramatically streamline and enhance the development of suspension dampers, enabling vehicle OEMs to accelerate new-model introductions and reduce the environmental impact of physical testing. This approach, developed by MRS in conjunction with Belgium’s Flanders Make
research centre, successfully bridges the gap between driving simulators and the critical subjective behaviour assessments made possible through conventional, physical models and on-vehicle damper measurements. “Our fully digital solution enables us to convert a damper characterisation originating
from a physical model or actual damper measurements into a physics-augmented neural network that outperforms existing virtual modeling techniques,” said Kenny Motte, senior manager engineering, Monroe Ride Solutions. Ardan Labrie, engineering manager, Monroe Ride Solutions, commented: “Some OEMs
are targeting 100% virtual development. By combining the strengths of a neural network with our extensive set of damper characterisation data, we can test more damper settings well before a prototype needs to be built.”
Tenneco
www.tenneco.com
42 DESIGN SOLUTIONS DECEMBER/JANUARY 2025
Destaco’s clamping and gripping components illustrate a perfect synergy within the manufacturing process. They ensure efficiency and quality, particularly during car body assembly, where precise automated welding and fastening of vehicle components are critical. Destaco’s range of electrically or pneumatically operated clamps, grippers and sheet metal grippers hold parts in exact position, while ACE’s industrial shock absorbers proficiently manage the kinetic energy of robot movements to guarantee precision in robot motion and welding points, cycle after cycle. ACE’s adjustable and self-compensating shock absorbers diminish the transmission of unwarranted forces that could compromise weld quality, while Destaco’s pneumatic power clamps have the ability to adjust to different thicknesses of metals using its tolerance compensating capability. All of this results in less wear and tear inside and out to the robot, as well as enabling more uptime due to eliminating the need to adjust tolerances in clamping applications. The ‘marriage’ phase of automobile production, where
the powertrain meets the body, also benefits from ACE and Destaco solutions. Varied positioning systems courtesy of Destaco, paired with ACE’s industrial gas springs, perform flawlessly in aligning the engine and chassis, lightening workloads and preventing installation errors. Destaco’s solutions ensure the precise placement of the engine in the chassis. ACE’s push and pull type Industrial gas springs perform additional tasks that support or replace the muscle power of the operating personnel by facilitating the lowering of the engine into the engine compartment. This prevents damage or misalignment during installation.
ACE UK T: 01942 727440 Destaco UK T: 01902 797980
www.destaco.com
www.acecontrols.co.uk
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