Suppliers showcase their best innovations

Lighting and electronic supplier Hella will show its Lane Departure Warning (LDW) system that gives the driver a warning signal before an unplanned move from the lane.

The LDW recognizes the position of the vehicle relative to the lane markings and compares it to expected driver intentions, using changes in the steering angle and use of indicators and brake pedal. The company is preparing the image-processing systems for lane recognition for series production. 

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In the lighting area, Hella will show white light emitting diodes for front lighting that are compact and reduce power consumption. Hella also will present a Night Driver system to simulate.

Honeywell

Honeywell's Garrett division, which supplies engine boosting systems, will present its new generation Variable Nozzle Turbine technology designed for diesel and gasoline applications. Rapid growth of this technology is expected in the European turbocharger market during the next few years. Honeywell Sensing and Control, a switch and sensor manufacturer, will also show its products.

Hydro Aluminium

Norway's Hydro Aluminium will show its front-end structure for the BMW 5 series; engine blocks for the next generation of General Motors' V-6 gasoline engine, which includes pre-cast water lines and oil lines; and new brazing technology for easier heat exchanger production. Hydro, which acquired German aluminum company VAW last year, is the leading European supplier of aluminum automotive parts.

Inalfa

Inalfa Roof Systems will present three of its latest developments: the new roof systems for the Citroen C3 Pluriel, GMC Envoy and BMW X3.

The company has four European sites that produce tilt/sliding roofs, sunroofs, spoiler roofs and top sliders.

Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls will present its Sensory concept, which it calls a new approach to product development based on engaging all the senses. JCI will also show its Leap automotive seating products, which are based on the ergonomic features of an office chair.

Leap was developed in cooperation with Steelcase, a joint venture that JCI announced with the office furniture manufacturer at the Detroit auto show in January.

JCI is also showing its Overhead Rail System, which features a flexible docking technology that allows a range of devices to be fitted overhead, such as CD/DVD players, video displays, storage bins or first aid kits.

Johnson Controls will show a new interior ambient lighting concept developed with lighting specialists at Philips, and a smart door panel with translucent substrate material.

JCI has expanded its range of electronics products with new cockpit instruments for high-end vehicles and electronic park distance control. A hands-free telephone with Bluetooth compatibility and multivoice recognition also will be shown. In addition, JCI will show a new flat speaker technology that will be available for series production in 2007.

The new speakers can be installed into the substrates of the doors, says Johnson Controls, and use the substrate material to carry sound around the car. The flat speakers make conventional speakers superfluous, said a Johnson Controls spokeswoman, and as there is no need for holes in the doors, the amount of external noise that enters the car is reduced.

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The speakers will also save between one and two kilos in weight and add design flexibility.

Kolbenschmidt Pierburg

German piston and engine system supplier Kolbenschmidt Pierburg will show a new electric coolant pump and a variable-output oil pump with consumption dependent control.

The company is presenting a complete intake manifold module. The manifold incorporates a motorized exhaust gas recirculation system.

Pierburg will also exhibit new lightweight pistons with low friction shaft coating.

Kostal

Privately-owned German controls supplier Kostal will show its current technology for sensors, switch panels, body network electronic control units and authorization systems. The 91-year-old company also will show roof, door and steering column modules.

Siemens VDO Automotive

Siemens VDO Automotive will present a "plug and play" cockpit based on three networked modules with standardized interfaces. This feature reduces the number of components in the cockpit, simultaneously lowering the weight. The technologies also can be readily changed.

Siemens VDO also will show the second generation of its tire pressure monitoring system. The new system consists of a batteryless fixed sensor integrated in the tire.

In the engine systems area, Siemens VDO will present a new piezo-based fuel injection system for gasoline engines with direct injection for the first time, the company says.

Takata

Japanese safety systems supplier Takata will show new technologies and improvements in smart airbag systems, occupant detection systems, accident avoidance systems, and adaptive restraint systems tailored to specific accident situations.

Takata also will present a new mechatronic pretensioning electric motor for a motorized reversible seat belt.

Tenneco

Tenneco will present the additive diesel particulate filter that it supplies to PSA/Peugeot-Citroen; a new fabricated manifold that offers a faster light-off to meet new regulations for emissions and weight; a fabricated manifold converter; and a hot spun (a new canning process) converter.

Tenneco will also display the rear exhaust system that it supplies for the new Volkswagen Golf platform.

Valeo

Valeo will show its new radar-based blind-spot detection system developed by Valeo Raytheon Systems.

The French company has booked a marquee outside Hall 8 to demonstrate the system.

The other technologies Valeo will show include light emitting diodes for front lighting; a development to solve the problem of the high demands of air conditioning during stop-and-start driving; a new engine cooling concept; and new flat wipers targeted at the aftermarket.

Vibracoustic

The joint venture of Freudenberg and Phoenix, Vibracoustic, will have an interactive area to show its vibrating seats.

Visitors will see and feel the effect of Vibracoustic's new seats while sitting in one of them and watching a short film.

Vibracoustic says the ride will be presented with high-energy projectors to give visitors the feeling that they are sitting in a transparent car.

Vibracoustic will share its area with sister company NOK Mechatronics.

Webasto displays second concept

Webasto will show a concept car, the Webasto Welcome 2, a follow-up to the Welcome 1, which was shown at the 2001 IAA in Frankfurt.

The concept features a large exterior panorama roof, a new generation of Webasto's parking heater (Thermo Top V, with a Venturi burner to help reduce weight and provide a more compact exterior) and new flexible luggage compartment concept.

Another concept, the company's Multi-Sports Coupe is based on a Mercedes-Benz 500CL. Webasto, of Stockdorf, Germany, says the car has "a slightly American feel."

ZF

ZF Friedrichshafen will show a development study of a new seven-speed automatic transmission based on its six-speed range. The German-based company's transmission features a wet starting clutch with dual-mass flywheel instead of a converter.

The omission of the converter means that the transmission's housing is 20mm shorter than ZF's six-speed automatic.

ZF has a customer for the new transmission, which required the shorter box. The transmission has been designed to handle 600Nm of torque, and its sporty and spontaneous gearshifts make it especially well-suited for modern diesel engines.

ZF's powertrain and suspension division, ZF Sachs, is expected to show the continuous damping control system that will be used on the new Opel Astra.

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It is the first CDC application in a mid-range car, according to ZF Sachs. Previously, the system was supplied to high-end Volkswagen models, Ferraris and the Porsche Cayenne.

ZF Lenksysteme, a joint venture between ZF and Bosch, will show the active steering system it introduced on the new BMW 5 series.