Everything from a single source: BENTELER expands portfolio to include rotor shaft components

BENTELER encompasses the expertise of its two divisions, Automotive and Steel/Tube. A current example is its entry into the rotor shaft component business – which includes e-mobility applications. Both the steel division's metal processing expertise and the automotive division' development experience come into play here. This is enabling the company to expand its portfolio of tubes for rotor shafts to include individual, lightweight component solutions. BENTELER covers the entire supply chain – from its own steel production to the tube and processing of the finished component. In this way, BENTELER is making it even easier and more cost effective for its customers to get their mobility solutions on the road.

Less complexity in the value chain

The trend toward electromobility is changing the demands on the production chain: Varying component quantities, diverse models, and rising demand for electric vehicles call for production capacities that are as flexible as possible. Production planners at suppliers and automotive manufacturers are therefore constantly evaluating their supply chains in order to either incorporate economically viable production steps into their production or outsource them. 

"This is exactly where BENTELER comes in with its flexible solutions for producing rotor shaft components. In addition to semi-finished products for rotor shafts based on our tube solutions, we now also offer complete solutions for individual rotor shaft components that are robust and cost-efficient," explains Ingemar Wohlert, Vice President Business Area Automotive BENTELER Steel/Tube, in describing the expansion of the portfolio. 

"We are now coupling our decades of experience and expertise in the production of high-precision tubes with the competence from the Engine & Exhaust Systems business area of BENTELER Automotive. Here, we already offer a broad portfolio of powertrain components and systems, extensive expertise in thermal management, and state-of-the-art process technologies with high vertical integration," adds Wohlert.

Modular system, different joining processes for lightweight and safe e-mobility solutions

The core element of an electric powertrain is the motor, the main component of which is the rotor shaft. By using tube instead of solid material, significantly less material is required in the manufacture of rotor shafts, which saves weight. BENTELER Steel/Tube produces both welded-drawn and seamless-drawn precision steel tubes for the manufacture of rotor shafts. Thanks to the hard steel and individual tube thicknesses, these solutions are particularly light, safe and flexible to adapt.

"In addition to the product, innovative manufacturing processes are also becoming increasingly important. Our modular approach to finished rotor shafts offers maximum flexibility and innovative mechanical machining," says Dr. Rainer Lübbers, Head of Business Unit Engine & Exhaust Systems at BENTELER Automotive about the strategic development. 

"Customers benefit from reduced complexity and minimized risk in supply chain management, an optimized global supply chain, and increased cost efficiency. Thanks to our materials competence, expertise in metal processing and know-how, we find the optimal lightweight solution together with our customers," Lübbers summarizes.