Continental Engineering Services: Customized Automotive Solutions and Very Small Production Runs

Continental Engineering Services: Customized Automotive Solutions and Very Small Production Runs

Continental Automotive Systems is bundling and expanding its activities in engineering services for automobile manufacturers and suppliers

March 30, 2006

Frankfurt, Germany: Continental Automotive Systems is reacting to the growing demand for engineering services by bundling its previous activities in this growth market. Under the name Continental Engineering Services (CES), automobile manufacturers and suppliers have available to them a newly organized team of highly qualified developers. Its goal is to react rapidly and flexibly to implement customers' special requests for high-volume production runs and very small production runs. Continental Automotive Systems already has a record of several years of economically successful activities in this field and will further expand the Engineering Services Division through the creation of new staff positions. By the end of the year, CES will employ more than 60 persons worldwide. Continental Engineering Services has direct access to all technologies and components developed in the company as well as the test circuits and test stands.


Electronic brake, chassis, drive train: development from one source
The core business of Continental Automotive Systems is to develop electronic and produce safety and comfort systems efficiently and in large numbers of units. “However, we are receiving more and more inquiries from automobile manufacturers and suppliers about customized special requests and electronic brake, chassis or drive train components for extra low-volume production vehicles or niche vehicles,” says Dr. Stefan Stölzl, Head of Continental Engineering Services. He sees the focus of Continental Engineering Services as software adaptation and development and road testing. Software makes it possible to customize components and systems such as ABS or ESC from the Continental product portfolio for even very small numbers of units and network them with other components and systems in the vehicle.

In addition to the tailored special solutions, software products are also developed for high-volume production such as deflation detection system (DDS), hill start assist (HSA) or for park assist in the future. Currently, DDS is being further developed to satisfy the NHTSA requirements for the US market. Functions like DDS/DDS+ can also be ported to third-party control units without the necessity of a control unit from Continental Automotive Systems.

“Also in the area of engine and transmission control and onboard diagnosis for Diesel engines (OBD II), development capacities and know-how can be made available rapidly and flexibly, thus sparing or temporarily replacing our customers’ resources. After all, we have decades of high-volume production experience in this area,” Stölzl goes on to say.

Another focus is integration and networking in the vehicle. Mechatronic components like sensors from third-party providers or software-based vehicle functions of the automobile manufacturers can thus be integrated into a complete system. In addition, CES supports large-scale projects like the implementation of APIA functionalities. APIA is the Active Passive Integration Approach from Continental Automotive Systems that helps to prevent accidents and accident-related injuries through active and anticipatory controls. Several inquiries have even been received from the non-automotive sector concerning the cost-effective use of Continental components in those areas.

Alongside development activities, CES equips vehicles for feasibility studies and for demonstration purposes. According to Dr. Stölzl, “In this area, we often cooperate with predevelopment departments of the automobile manufacturers who want to test new components, systems and functions or even develop them themselves. If necessary, our volume production experience enables us to support our customers with advice during the development phase. Our goal is to work together with our customers in converting ideas into products.”

The Continental Corporation is a leading supplier of brake systems, chassis components, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers. In 2005 the corporation realized sales of € 13.8 billion. At present it has a worldwide workforce of around 80,000.

Continental Automotive Systems
100 Years. Forward Thinking
As a worldwide leading technology partner to the automotive industry, the Automotive Systems Division of Continental AG integrates extensive know-how and uncompromising quality in the fields of driving safety, powertrain and comfort. In 2005 the Division achieved sales of approx. € 5.2 billion with a workforce of more than 24,000. Across systems, Continental Automotive Systems is specialized on integrating active and passive driving safety, developing innovative electric drives and making available intelligent body electronics. With the brands Continental Teves, Continental Temic and ATE (aftermarket) the Division develops and produces electronic and hydraulic brake, stability and chassis control systems, electronic air suspension systems, sensors, engine management and transmission control systems, hybrid drives, cooling fan modules as well as body and security electronics.

In 2006 Continental Automotive Systems celebrates altogether 100 years of successful automotive technologies. The slogan "Forward Thinking" points to the future and the mission to keep pushing for new dimensions in safe mobility and the joy of driving cars.‹ previous  •  7272 of 12777  •  next ›