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From YourSITE.com Industry News
BBS invests in new technology Schiltach, February 2006. It is the company’s maxim to develop and pursue innovative and environmentally-oriented concepts that point to the future. For 35 years the brand name BBS has been synonymous for high-tech in the development and production of light alloy wheels for racing and road cars. With its production plants in Germany and Italy, BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik AG currently produces approximately 17.000 light alloy wheels per day. These wheels are sold both to the Original Equipment and the After Market business. The South German company which is located in the Black Forest, is considered one of the world’s leading light alloy wheel manufacturers in terms of quality and technology. With the new patented AIR INSIDE TECHNOLOGY BBS sets a new milestone in the production of light alloy wheels. Circumferencial hollow chambers and hollow cast spokes provide significantly lower weight and considerably better stability which provide better driving dynamics, improved driving comfort and increased driving safety.
BBS AIR INSIDE – Patented Hollow Chamber Technology - "More Air. Less Weight” How – thought the BBS engineers – can we make a big wheel light, but also extremely safe? The result is amazing: “More air. Less weight.” The secret: hollow chambers instead of aluminium. The patented BBS AIR INSIDE TECHNOLOGY with circumferential hollow chambers and hollow spokes provides a noticeably lower weight and considerably better stability. As a direct result, not only the driving dynamics and the driving comfort are improved. The brand-new BBS technology is also a guarantor for the maximum safety possible in traffic. The AIR INSIDE TECHNOLOGY at one glance: • The inner and outer shoulder are shaped into hollow chambers by flow-forming and are afterwards laser welded. • The resistance to the deformation of the rim shoulder is being increased by 60 % and therefore significantly improves safety. • The hollow chambers in the spokes increase the air volume of the wheel. • This procedure reduces the weight of the AI wheel by approximately 5,3 kg. • This counteracts the disadvantageous reduction of the air volume in low section tyres. • Higher safety pressure at loss of air. • Improved cushioning characteristics. • Less noise development. • Lower tyre flange temperatures.
"AIR I AI“- Perfect Appearance, Patented Safety Hollow chamber constructions are used when the static requirements are high. From the aircraft to the bone structure examples are known in nature and technology where a higher load capacity is gained by systematic hollowing out. The wheel BBS AIR I AI takes advantage of this technology and increases the stability of the wheel by up to 60 %. At a weight reduction at the same time of nearly 22 kg per wheel set. The spokes are hollow cast using hydraulically actuated inserts. Inner and outer flange are shaped into hollow areas through flow-forming and laser welding. Ball polished surface. The new AIR I AI wheel is also equipped with an integrated valve, not using the standard valve. The result is that the valve is not only more accessible but it is also better protected against pollution, especially in off road use. And when it is a question of safety and driving comfort, BBS has always been the number one in development. Available by spring 2006 in the sizes 10,0“ x 20” to 10,5” x 22” for Porsche Cayenne, VW Touareg and other models.
"AIR II CK“ - The Super Athlete The two-piece AIR II CK with a center connected to the rim by titanium bolts is the measure of all things, in case of absolutely sporty driving. No other technology permits such a high driving comfort and at the same time a high driving safety. The BBS AIR INSIDE TECHNOLOGY increases the resistance to the deformation of the inner shoulder by up to 60 %. The laws of dynamics indicate where a weight reduction can be most effective: in the rim shoulder. A physical fact, which everyone knows from the so-called pirouette effect. To keep the arms closer to the body – a reduction of the outer rotating mass – leads to an accelerated rotation. The result of the hollow cast rim shoulder: clearly better acceleration- and brake characteristics. The Specials: Rim section manufactured using BBS patented AIR INSIDE TECHNOLOGY with hollow inner flange. Polished stainless steel rim protector covers the balance weights on the outer flange. Rim protector can be replaced if damaged. 2-Piece construction with stainless steel rim protector. New BBS “titanium-silver” painted center. Titanium assembly bolts. Available by spring 2006 in the sizes 8,0 x 18” to 10,0 x 19” for BMW, Audi, Mercedes, VW and other models. Recommended Retail Price: 425,-- € to 575,-- €.
New Conventional Wheel CO monobloc - "Inspired by DTM“ The design of BBS’ new wheel type CO is inspired by the German TouringCar Masters DTM – a true ‘child’ of Motorsports. Weight optimized by FEM analysis this BBS wheel represents the authentic motorsports look and is available in either brilliant silver or ball polished finish. With this new wheel type, BBS anticipates the new EC and ECE regulations which are currently in preparation. The CO wheel will be produced with dimensions and offsets that are close to the original wheel dimensions being approved by the car manufacturers. Thus the fitment on the car can be effected without any modifications or body work. The CO wheel applications include several VW-models as well as for Audi, Seat, Skoda, Ford, Honda, Mitsubishi Nissan, Toyota and others. The offered dimensions are 6.5 x 16” and 7.5 x 17”. Brilliant silver finish: from 165,- to 185,- € Ball polished finish: from 245,- to 265,- € (Recommended retail prices without VAT.) BBS international With its three subsidiaries in Italy, France and the United States BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik AG is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of light alloy wheels for road cars. Every day a total of 1.200 motivated employees ensure customer satisfaction with all their efforts. More than half of the output is directly supplied to well-known car manufacturers like Audi, AMG, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, Ferrari, Jaguar, Porsche, PSA-Group, Saab, Volvo and Volkswagen, the other parts are sold to the exclusive After Market and Tuning business. Since mid-year of 2004 the leading manufacturer of high-quality light alloy wheels produces together with a Chinese joint-venture partner aluminum wheels in BBS quality explicit for the growth market number one of the passenger car industry. Environmental Beneficial Manufacturing Most modern painting plant To satisfy the growing demand for BBS alloy wheels, the company extends its capacity by 100 per cent with the new plant in Herbolzheim near Freiburg. The warehouse and the painting plant, where also the wheels produced in Schiltach get their final finish, are already in operation. Awarded Finish A special challenge producing light alloy wheels is the finish. The coat of lacquer must have a precious and perfect surface and needs to be also very resistant. The lacquer protects the wheel against humidity, salt and mechanical defects. BBS has developed a totally new treatment, which has been put into operation for the first time in the new facility in Herbolzheim. BBS has not only improved the quality of the lacquer, also this process is environment friendly. Compared to the conventional painting process, the environment is protected by avoiding approximately 150 tons of toxic waste per year. A primary reason for the Federal Ministry of Environment to support this innovative plant as a pilot project. Klaus Baumgartner, managing director of Marketing & Design: “We are very proud to have received this sponsorship. This confirms our company philosophy. In the 30 years of our motorsport engagement we have learnt to ignore the boarders of feasibility, to realize totally new solutions beyond.” Dry mechanical treatment protects environment Mechanical treatment of aluminium material without any cooling lubricants supported by the German Ministry of Environment In the sign of progress, BBS gives emphasis to the further development of the mechanical treatment. For the first time BBS uses a new technology by which alloy wheels are machined in a dry process. This non-polluting process has been supported by the German Ministry of Environment with about 1.0 Mio €. Better handling, no recycling of the cooling lubricants, clean parts, are only a few of the advantages. The alloy filings resulting from the machining process, can be completely recycled with the result of a closed production cycle maintaining the high quality standards. Continuous extension of the production stages of the plant in Herbolzheim BBS sticks up for the production location Germany. With the heat treatment and the new flow forming plant two additional stages of production are in operation at the plant in Herbolzheim. In the meantime, over 250 employees are working in the continuously growing second German production plant of the BBS group. Motorsports Also in 2006 there will be 5 Formula 1 teams on BBS wheels striving for the title. Like last year, besides Ferrari, there are Honda F1, Toyota, Midland F1 as Jordan follower and newcomer Super Aguri F1. After a turbulent but very thrilling season 2005, Michael Schumacher drove up 3rd and so far has won seven World Champion titles on BBS wheels. Further motorsport successes, see racing overview 2005. © Copyright 2004 by YourSITE.com |
