SGL Carbon Group claims that it has delivered its one millionth glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) leaf spring for automotive suspension. By delivering its one millionth composite leaf spring to Volvo Car Corporation, SGL Carbon Group has reached a milestone in the history of mass production of fiber composite parts. The leaf spring is produced at the Innreis plant in Austria.
With this fully automatic, scalable series of leaf springs based on glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), SGL Carbon Group provides one of the most widely used composite parts in the automotive industry. A standard steel leaf spring can weigh up to 15 kilograms, compared to a similar GFRP leaf spring that weighs only 6 kilograms and is about 65% lighter. In addition to reducing weight, composite leaf springs require less space and are easier to handle. In addition, the composite design means that leaf springs can be customized to different models, providing manufacturers with a high degree of flexibility while reducing costs. GFRP leaf springs are part of Volvo Cars' global SPA vehicle platform and are used in different Volvo models.
Erik Johansson, senior design engineer at Volvo Cars, said: "The new leaf springs can significantly reduce the weight of our models compared to traditional steel leaf springs. This helps reduce fuel consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, we can A small number of leaf spring styles are used in the car to increase efficiency and achieve a high degree of flexibility. "