Record year: production of Continental transmission control units passes ten million mark

This growth trend is being driven by strong international demand for efficient automatic transmissions. Vehicles with automatic transmission are experiencing double-digit growth rates. Creation of the new Test and Development Center for transmission control units, which will be completed in Nuremberg in 2012, underlines the rapid pace of growth.

Full-line technology: from conventional stepped automatics to dual-clutch and CVT transmissions

In response to the diverse range of transmission applications around the world, Continental offers a broad portfolio of products and technologies for both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. The spectrum embraces all types of vehicle transmission, from continuously variable transmissions, automated manual transmissions, stepped automatic transmissions and dual-clutch transmissions, to control systems for all-wheel drive systems.

Automatic transmissions dominate the US market in particular, but also markets such as Japan and China. In the future, US demand will continue to focus on conventional stepped automatic transmissions – although with a high number of ratios, to further reduce fuel consumption. Most of the controllers that Continental sells in this market are for six- or seven-speed torque converter transmissions. In Asia, continuously variable transmissions (CVT) account for a substantial share of the market. In Europe meanwhile, statutory requirements designed to improve fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions are driving up demand for vehicles with dual-clutch transmissions (DCT).

Innovative manufacturing, hardware and software solutions

##IMAGE_2_R##This global diversity in terms of market preferences for different types of transmission requires a corresponding diversity in transmission controller technologies. Depending on customer requirements, the electronic circuits can be mounted on conventional circuit boards, thick-film substrates or LTCC ceramic substrates. Also, the new bare-die high-density integrated circuit technology opens up new functional integration options for transmission control units, as well as opportunities to boost performance and energy density.

In addition, efforts to achieve lower CO2 emissions, weight reductions and optimized installation envelopes are driving innovations in transmission engineering. Development goals include a higher number of ratios, minimized friction losses and optimized energy consumption in the valves and electric motors, for example, involved in gearshift and actuation processes.

Local development and production: close to global customers

Continental's new Test and Development Center in Nuremberg, which will be completed in 2012, will act as a center for the global development of pioneering new technologies. According to Rudolf Stark, this will raise our external profile as a development site for high-tech products for which there is strong global demand. At the same time, though, as Stark also stresses: One of Continental's great strengths is that, in addition to producing these technologies, our plants in China and the US also carry out development tasks as well. We aim to be where the customer needs us. As well as minimizing currency risks, this strategy also increases flexibility, shortens development cycles, and reduces transportation times, with resulting quality benefits – as any faults can be remedied much faster.