• Volume UK manufacturer of world class composite leaf springs (GKN) sought global business opportunities in passenger car applications
• Composite materials typically offer specific strain energy capacity and fatigue life many times that of their steel counterparts
• Leaf springs have not seen significant application in this field since 1950’s, and steel coil springs are ubiquitous

• Apply concept thinking which could offset the higher spring cost by offering the OEM customer a range of other features
• A flat, low profile spring lends itself to a larger interior package, and to modular assembly with linkages in an isolated subframe: benefits include greater occupant space, easier ‘stuff up’ assembly and quieter NVH
• A slender, lightweight transverse leaf reduces unsprung mass and can be 4-point mounted to displace the anti-roll bar function

• Modular, lightweight and refined passenger
  car rear suspension systems built and tuned
  for US and Japanese vehicle OEMs
• Technology licensed to Japanese Tier
  1 supplier
• GKN and many of its global customers
  gained access to a technology which could
  fulfil future product and
  manufacturing requirements

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