Brake systems

Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 18, 2008 -- The Chassis & Safety Division of the international automotive supplier Continental AG will integrate its expertise in the series production of conventional brakes and electromechanical combi brakes with the new innovative approaches adopted by VDO Automotive AG which Continental recently acquired. By pooling engineering know-how, the plan is to step up development activities ranging from electromechanical brake ready for series production to a fully dry brake.

Electromechanical Brakes: Their universal electronic interface makes electromechanical brake calipers ideally suited for an integration into a global chassis control system.

Pioneer of ceramic applications in vehicle construction

Stuttgart/Meissen, 3/13/2008 -- Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, is making a ceramic brake available for a Special Exhibition which has been organized to mark the 300th anniversary of the discovery of porcelain in Saxony. Porsche is among the pioneers of ceramic applications in vehicle construction, and was the first manufacturer to introduce a brake and a clutch made of this material in serially-produced vehicles.

More efficient designs and new manufacturing processes are helping Continental to develop lighter brakes and so reduce vehicle fuel consumption

Frankfurt am Main, Germany, March 10, 2008. As a result of carefully focused and detailed work, Continental has succeeded in developing new brakes which weigh between 10 and 40 percent less than before, depending on the individual components. This development can make a significant contribution towards reducing CO2 emissions because lighter vehicles use less fuel. The particular challenge when developing brakes which weigh less is not to compromise safety. Consequently, not every technically feasible weight reduction becomes a reality.

Light-weight due to intelligent design

WARRENDALE, Pa., Dec. 5, 2007 - Stanley Stokes, founder and principal of BrakeTec in Sahuarita, Ariz., is the recipient of SAE International's Arch T. Colwell Cooperative Engineering Medal. He will be presented the award during the SAE 2007 World Congress in Detroit, April 14-17.

This award, established in 1976, recognizes outstanding contributions to SAE technical committees under the SAE Technical Standards Board. These contributions can include developing standards, specifications, technical reports and data through cooperative research. The medal is named in honor of Arch T. Colwell, 1941 SAE President.

Dec. 5, 2007 -- ADVICS Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, ADVICS) and Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, Aisin) announced today that ADVICS and Aisin agreed the merger of Chinese manufacturing subsidiaries, ADVICS Tianjin Automobile Parts Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, ADVICS Tianjin)and Tianjin Aisin Automobile Parts Co., Ltd. (hereinafter, Tianjin Aisin).

ADVICS and Aisin have manufactured and sold automotive brakes by sharing manufacturing operations in the same production base in Tianjin Beichen Hi-tech Industrial Park in China since Aisin established Tianjin Aisin in 1997 and ADVICS established ADVICS Tianjin in 2004.

LIVONIA, Mich., Nov. 7 /PRNewswire - FirstCall/ -- TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. (NYSE: TRW), the global leader in active and passive safety systems, is launching its Slip Control Boost (SCB) advanced regenerative-compatible braking system to provide full Stabilitrak functionality for the new 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon hybrid sport utility vehicle. SCB is being supplied through TRW's Kelsey-Hayes subsidiary.

The SCB system incorporates high performance stability control and brake actuation within a 12-volt system architecture and is an integral part of the hybrid Tahoe's regenerative braking system.