Schaeffler has been named a 2023 Automotive News PACE Award Finalist for its eRocker System. The electromechanical valve deactivation technology is one of 34 automotive innovations recently named a finalist in the annual competition that identifies and celebrates the latest game-changing innovations from the plant floor to the product to the showroom floor.

The Schaeffler eRocker System is an electromechanical valve system used to deactivate the exhaust valves of the engine. The system consists of three main components: a dual-pin electromagnetic actuator; two slider bars; and either eight (four-cylinder) or 12 (six- cylinder) switchable roller finger followers. The system is currently in production with a global automaker on both a six-cylinder and four-cylinder gasoline engine, Schaeffler said.

Schaeffler’s eRocker Systems offers full switching performance throughout the entire engine temperature/speed range; integration within the cylinder head; independent operation of oil pressure from the cylinder head; and a reduced total system cost, the company said.