Eastman stated the bearing may also profit automakers seeking to redesign current inner combustion engine autos to supply hybrid or BEV variations. TriFinity takes up the identical quantity of house as normal two-row variations or might be even smaller.
“Perhaps OEMs do not need to undergo a whole redesign of the complete wheel bearing. If that has to develop, then all the pieces surrounding it — the knuckle, the brakes, all the pieces — has to alter, too,” he stated. “The TriFinity bearing helps us to place just a little extra capability into the identical package deal.”
Eastman stated the preliminary idea for the design emerged in 2009, however work on it started in earnest round 2019 by groups in North America and Europe.
The bearing will go into manufacturing late this 12 months or in early 2023. Eastman stated Schaeffler has entered right into a contract to produce it to an automaker, however he declined to call the corporate.
The rollout comes shortly after Schaeffler established a brand new enterprise division devoted to bearings this 12 months, helmed in North America by Eastman.
The corporate believes there may be progress potential within the section because the trade continues to affect.
“There is a laser focus inside this division on the bearings themselves and leveraging synergies throughout the completely different functions and product varieties,” he stated. “We now have to have the ability to make certain we’re utilizing assets as effectively as potential, that we’re growing greatest practices and growing options that the market and our clients want.”
