Chassis in transition: New requirements posed by modern vehicle architectures
Electrified powertrains, new platform concepts, and increasing demands for comfort and safety are fundamentally changing vehicle design. This also affects the suspension: Modern air suspension systems must compensate for varying load conditions, contribute to vehicle stability, and integrate seamlessly into complex vehicle architectures. Air suspension components from voestalpine Rotec and structural expertise from voestalpine Automotive Components demonstrate how important the interaction of precision-manufactured components is in modern automotive engineering.
Precision tube components for air suspension system
Modern vehicle architectures require components that meet the highest quality standards. The voestalpine Rotec Group brings extensive experience in the series production of components and complex assemblies for the automotive industry. The portfolio includes rotary pistons, outer guides and pressure accumulators for air suspension systems. The tube components are integrated directly into the chassis and are exposed to high loads during vehicle operation. Therefore, precise dimensional accuracy, high surface quality and a stable manufacturing process are crucial to ensure that they reliably fulfill their function within the overall system over the long term.
Cost-effective manufacturing with high quality
The voestalpine Rotec Group processes steel, aluminum, and stainless steel to manufacture tube components for air suspension systems. The use of an in-house developed rotational forming process enables the precise machining of both thin- and thick-walled metal tubes. This allows forming, machining, and heat treatment to be combined into a single step. The result is weld-free components with tight tolerances and high dimensional accuracy. At the same time, short setup times and low tooling costs ensure that the process can be used economically for small, medium, and large production runs.
Chassis and structure as a cohesive unit
High-performance chassis solutions are not created by individual components alone—the key lies in the interaction of all components. Chassis components must reliably transmit forces while simultaneously interacting precisely with the body, underbody, battery compartment, and other surrounding structures. This is where the expertise of voestalpine Rotec and voestalpine Automotive Components complements each other: While voestalpine Rotec manufactures precision tube components for air suspension systems, voestalpine Automotive Components contributes comprehensive expertise in the areas of materials, forming technologies, tooling, co-engineering, and industrialization. High-strength and press-hardened steel components are of central importance, particularly in modern vehicle architectures. As A- and B-pillars, crossmembers, or side sills, they perform critical safety functions, transfer forces in a controlled manner, and simultaneously support a weight-optimized design.
New platforms, new requirements
As electrification progresses, the chassis and vehicle structure will need to be considered even more closely together in the future. Battery systems increase vehicle weight, new packaging requirements change the available installation space, and at the same time, expectations for comfort, safety, and efficiency are rising. To meet these demands, components are needed that do not only perform well individually, but function optimally within the overall system. This is precisely where the future of modern vehicle architectures lies: precisely manufactured components, in-depth material expertise, and reliable mass production remain essential prerequisites for the mobility of tomorrow.