TECNALIA and CIE LEGAZPIA undertake a new manufacturing process for the automotive industry

We joined synergies with CIE Legazpia three years ago to create products with higher added-value and with lower costs through new manufacturing processes. We identified a niche of opportunity in the way we produce gear rims, a bevel gear that is used in automotive differentials.

These gear rims are produced by means of hybridising the conventional forge in a vertical press with a rotating forge; making it possible to get closer to the final part geometry, resulting in significant advantages against the processes used to date.

According to the data handed over by CIE Legazpia, this method results in a reduction of 950 grammes of material per part, which is approximately 15% less. In order for this new technology to achieve a greater industrialisation level, the next step should be conducting a feasibility study, even focusing on new future parts.

In addition to substantially reducing the amount of material used, CIE can offer its customers savings in machining and raw materials costs through the “near to shape” concept, that is, creating a part that is closer to the final geometry and with a higher added-value.