Press Release
ContiTech
Vibration Control
Lightweight Design: ContiTech Develops World’s First
Polyamide Strut Mount for Passenger Car Chassis
 Lightweight variant with fiberglass-reinforced polyamide 25 percent lighter than
aluminum design
 Enhanced ride comfort thanks to highly insulating rubber element
Hanover, November 2015. ContiTech Vibration Control – the strut mount specialist based in
Hanover in Germany – has developed a strut mount in which fiberglass-reinforced BASF Ultramid
polyamide is also used as the primary structural component. It is the first strut mount made of this
material, which is used both at the front and rear axle in the chassis environment of passenger
cars. The strut mount offers significant advantages over traditional variants made from steel or
aluminum: a weight reduction of around 25 percent and a longer service life. At the same time, a
highly insulating rubber element enhances ride comfort. In collaboration with General Motors LLC,
ContiTech developed the strut mount for the new Cadillac CT6, which is set to be launched on the
market at the end of 2015.
“High-performance plastics are the material of the future in the automotive industry,” says Kai
Frühauf, who heads ContiTech Vibration Control. “Thanks to our many years of experience and
extensive materials expertise, we are among the top partners when it comes to innovative new
developments with this material. This strut mount designed for passenger car bodies represents
another step forward.”
Enhanced Safety, Even Under Extreme Stress
In passenger cars, the spring strut mount is the interface between the spring strut and body. It
enables precise and low-friction rotational movement of the spring strut in the front of the vehicle,
thereby ensuring optimum contact of the tire to the road. The vehicle is easier to steer.
As a chassis component, it is subjected to extreme stress. Spray water, road salt, sand, gravel,
and vibrations can cause the spring strut to wear. If it is no longer fully functional, the shock
absorbers – among other things – are more highly stressed. Vibrations and noise from the axles
are more pronounced, resulting in reduced ride comfort.
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Your contact:
Antje Lewe, phone: +49 511 938-1304
-2The new two-section, three-path bearing from ContiTech comprises both fiberglass-reinforced
polyamide and aluminum components. This brand-new design can even withstand shock loading
as high as 75 kN, equivalent to driving a car along a badly potholed road. The strut mount also
ensures that only minimal countertorque acts on the shock absorber. This component too is
subjected to less stress which, in turn, enhances safety in the vehicle.
The new strut mount from ContiTech also enhances ride comfort. This highly durable, extremely
comfortable, and innovative strut mount was developed in close cooperation with the customer.
“Key to success was the early integration of our customer in the development process, which
meant that we were involved in system design right from the outset and could contribute our
specialist experience,” reports Stefan Wöhler, a developer at ContiTech Vibration Control.
ContiTech Vibration Control has been developing light weight products, using BASF Ultramid
material, for the automotive industry since 2006. Product solutions include heavy-duty engine
mounts, with the annual production volume in 2013 exceeding three million. In 2009 ContiTech
Vibration Control also launched a lightweight transmission crossmember from the lightweight
material to support the forces and torques of the engine transmission unit. The weight is 50 percent
less compared to an aluminum component. In 2014, ContiTech presented the first rear axle
transmission crossmember made from this high-performance polyamide. ContiTech has already
delivered millions of torque rod supports and torque reaction mounts made from polyamide.
Caption CT_VC_Federbeinstützlager.jpg
This strut mount is the world’s first fiberglass-reinforced polyamide strut mount designed for use in
the passenger car chassis system. For the front and rear axles, there are different versions.
Photo: ContiTech
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Your contact:
Antje Lewe, phone: +49 511 938-1304
-3Continental develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods. As a reliable partner,
the international automotive supplier, tire manufacturer, and industrial partner provides sustainable, safe,
comfortable, individual, and affordable solutions. In 2014, the corporation generated sales of approximately
€34.5 billion with its five divisions, Chassis & Safety, Interior, Powertrain, Tire, and ContiTech. Continental
currently employs more than 208,000 people in 53 countries.
The ContiTech division is one of the world's leading suppliers of technical elastomer products and is a
specialist in plastics technology. It develops and produces functional parts, components, and systems for
machine and plant engineering, mining, the automotive industry, and other important industries. Together
with U.S. company Veyance Technologies Inc., which was acquired at the beginning of 2015, ContiTech
generated sales of approximately €5.4 billion (pro forma basis) in 2014 and currently employs approximately
43,000 people in 43 countries worldwide.
Contact for journalists
Antje Lewe
Spokeswoman
Head of Media & Public Relations
ContiTech AG
Phone: +49 511 938-1304
Cell phone: +49 160 4767260
E-mail: antje.lewe@contitech.de
www.contitech.de
Sandra Behnsen
Head of Communications
Vibration Control
ContiTech AG
Phone: +49 511 938-14029
E-mail: sandra.behnsen@contitech.de
www.contitech.de
This press release is available in the following languages: German, English
Links
Press releases and photos are available for download at www.contitech.de/press
Your contact:
Antje Lewe, phone: +49 511 938-1304