SGL Carbon says that it has produced longitudinal leaf springs made of glass fiber-based composite for Ford Transit rear axles in series.
According to the company, the springs are used in combination with the Transit Skeleton chassis where high payloads play an important role, for example in caravanning models or specific commercial vehicle variants of the Transit.
When compared to conventional leaf springs, the composite leaf spring weighs about 50% less while offering increased security standards, SGL says. They also have a one-to-one compatibility with standard steel springs.
This story uses material from SGL, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.