Uprights manufactured by Continental

In addition to the newly developed Continental tyres, this season the Continental AG supported us in manufactoring. Because wheel hub drive is being used for the first time this year, and the motor and gearbox are therefore integrated into the wheel unit, a complete redevelopment of the uprights was necessary.

In order to achieve the best possible result, many different manufacturing processes were compared. For this we were given professional support from the department of “Mould Design and Manufacturing” at the Continental factory in Villingen. Here, the new uprights were manufactured from blocks of high strength aluminium using 3- and 5-axis milling as well as wire-cut EDM and die-sinking. Despite the complicated geometry, a satisfactory result was obtained through the expertise of the staff and the available technical resources. Additionally, we could be helped out at short notice with the production of the V-inserts for the wishbones. One of our team members was present for 4 days to see the manufacture of the uprights and gain an insight into Continental Villingen.

Continental AG is much more than a tyre manufacturer! Along with the Rubber-Group, which is responsible for everything to do with tyres and technical elastomers, the Automotive-Group has grown to become one of the largest automotive suppliers worldwide. Amongst other things, digital tachographs and on-board-units for electronic boxes are produced in Villingen. An important area of production includes instrument panels for buses and trucks, as well as driver’s workplace in the commercial vehicle sector. For this purpose, almost all of the required injection-moulded parts and even their moulds are made in the factory itself.

We would especially like to thank Klaus Faht, the senior manager in Mould Design and Manufacturing, and his co-workers in the Villingen factory for their support in the manufacturing of the uprights. We are very pleased with the working relationship with Continental Automotive GmbH and hope we will be able to count on the expertise of the Villingen factory next season.