42 / 48
wiredInUSA - August 2014
42
“Triton really is an ingenious solution and one
that I am sure will go on to be a popular and
successful addition to our extensive range,”
Mr Shaw added.
Triton – believed to be the world’s first
two-in-one cable guide. Photograph
courtesy of Ellis Cleats
Italian designs for spring
Sogefi of Milan, working with Audi, has
developed a patented
coil spring technology
using fiber reinforced
composites. The coil
spring is made from
glass fiber reinforced
polymer (GFRP) which weighs between
40 and 70 percent less than traditional
steel springs. The new GFRP springs can be
assembled on cars and light commercial
vehicles without affecting the suspension
system architecture and allow for a weight
reduction of 4kg to 6kg (9lb to 13lb) per
vehicle depending on spring design and
vehicle type.
The resulting benefits are said to include
lower fuel consumption, enhanced comfort
and protection against corrosion.
Guglielmo Fiocchi, CEO of Sogefi, said:
“Research and development is a key factor
for the future growth of Sogefi. Innovation in
the car sector, starting from reducing weight
and improving theefficiencyof vehicles, now
depends significantly on the components
companies. Sogefi in particular is gradually
increasing its investment in research and
development, which has gone up in recent
years from around two percent to just under
three percent of its total revenues.”
Sogefi claims this innovation also guarantees
a significant reduction of CO
2
emissions
during the manufacturing process as the
overall energy required is significantly
lower than in traditional steel coil spring
manufacturing.
The concept of a composite spring is not
new, however. Chevrolet introduced the
fully composite-sprung C4 Corvette in 1984,
but unlike the Audi’s coils the Corvette
featured a single transverse leaf spring at
the front and rear.
Fasteners key to Kelpie monument
Alcoa Fastening Systems’ Huck
®
brand
C50L
®
fastener is a key component in a
major Scottish construction project, due to
be opened later this year.
The Kelpies is a 30m-high steel monument
commemorating Scotland’s horse-powered
heritage, andprovidingadramaticgateway
to the Forth and Clyde Canal entrance on
the country’s east coast. Over 12,000 Huck
C50L lockbolts were supplied by distributor
Permalok Fastening Systems Ltd.