GKN Driveline‘s aftermarket group is returning to Automechanika in Frankfurt after a six-year absence with a “One Brand” theme. The theme’s intent is to showcase the wide range of aftermarket products the company offers around the world.
GKN’s exhibit also will include products from GKN Sinter Metals and GKN Motorsports, and will feature a Formula E I-Type 2 race car from Panasonic Jaguar Racing.
Frank Huerter, commercial director for GKN’s automotive aftermarket group, noted that replacement parts for original equipment (OE) components, such as ballspline sideshafts, SX countrack joints and face splines, also will be on display from Sept. 11-15 at the Frankfurt show.
“There is no better platform than Automechanika on which to showcase our OEM and aftermarket businesses,” said Huerter. “Powertrain technology is changing at a rapid pace and GKN is a major contributor to those changes.
“Automotive service providers and retailers will have an opportunity to gain insights into the new technologies that they will soon be dealing with in their day-to-day businesses when they visit our display.”
Huerter pointed out that GKN is working closely with Panasonic Jaguar Racing to make the I-TYPE 2 faster. Thanks to GKN’s expertise in the automotive industry as well as in aviation, the race car’s driveshafts, differential, lightweight pump system and transmission have all been designed to be even more efficient. A Jaguar driver will be available on the stand for questions and interviews on Sept. 12.
“GKN is committed to innovative production processes to better serve the automotive industry’s future demands,” said Huerter. “GKN Sinter Metals focuses on additive manufacturing, to facilitate the development and manufacture of complex components with virtually no restrictions in shape. Design opportunities offered by powder metallurgy translate into lighter component weight something being effectively applied to the Formula E Jaguar. GKN is able to fulfill the extremely high-quality demands set by vehicle makers in metal 3-D printing by using metal powders developed in-house.”
Although developed solely for OE applications, the following GKN original equipment products on display at Automechanika also are available as GKN replacement parts, illustrating how quickly new technologies are finding their way into the aftermarket:
- GKN ballspline
- GKN SX countertrack joints
- GKN face spline
