High tech in a car for the masses
Freudenberg subsidiary Vibracoustic ensures a comfortable ride in the Tata Nano
Weinheim, Germany, January 15, 2008: From autumn 2008 the Tata Nano will come into the Indian market. This low priced "people's car" for less than 1,700 Euro was recently unveiled by the Tata Group in New Delhi. The new car is equipped with products of two companies of the Freudenberg Group.
In Hamburg, Vibracoustic GmbH & Co. KG developed a special engine-suspension concept for the revolutionary new car. The parts are produced by a joint venture, Sigma-Vibracoustic, in the northern Indian city of Mohali. Vibracoustic did not equip the most economical car in the world with a "cheap product" at all. "We use high-tech to develop economical products that are precision tailored to match the requirements of our customers", observes Reinhard Schütz, Chairman of Vibracoustic.
Since March 2007, the technology specialist has devoted its product-development expertise to solving a particularly tricky problem: two specially matched elastic engine mountings, along with a pivoted lever, insulate the car's body from the vibration of the two-cylinder engine. This innovation helps ensure a modern standard of riding comfort for a vehicle of this class. When producing components so integral to the overall impression of the Tata Nano, the real challenge is to keep the design simple and economical, but not at the cost of vibration-insulating performance or product life span.
The Sigma Freudenberg NOK joint venture is the sole supplier of engine and drive train seals for the Tata Nano.
In 1999, Freudenberg and its partners Sigma and NOK reacted to the rapid growth of the Indian economy by establishing a joint venture for seal production also located in Mohali. This joint venture now produces a broad range of seals for the automotive industry and other sectors. In addition to local car manufacturers, Sigma Freudenberg NOK's major customers include the Indian joint venture partners of Europe's car manufacturers and their major suppliers.
Press contact:
Markus Rademacher
Freudenberg & Co. KG
External Communications
Tel. +49 (0)6201 80-4049
Fax +49 (0)6201 88-4049
markus.rademacher@freudenberg.de
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