Products and solutions Sep 11, 2001 2:00 AM
Thyssen Umformtechnik + Guss supplies body parts for Mercedes-Benz Vaneo
At this year`s IAA show, DaimlerChrysler AG will be unveiling the new Mercedes-Benz Vaneo. With an external length of 4.2 meters, the Vaneo offers space for up to five adults and two children, or alternatively luggage capacity up to 3,000 liters. This first ever compact van in premium format will be manufactured at the company`s Ludwigsfelde plant to the south of Berlin. Almost all the outer body panels will be supplied by Thyssen Umformtechnik + Guss GmbH, part of the Body business unit of ThyssenKrupp Automotive, which operates a dedicated car body component facility in Ludwigsfelde, close to the DaimlerChrysler plant.
Thyssen Umformtechnik + Guss will produce outer skin and structural parts for the body of Vaneo, in total around 160 different stampings and some 70 assemblies. The biggest single components for the roof and floor will measure up to 1,300 x 2,850 millimeters. To ensure the Vaneo satisfies the requirements of "EuroNCAP", currently the world`s most demanding crash strength standard, crash-relevant parts such as front side rail reinforcements and B-pillars will be made from high-strength steel.
Development of the Vaneo took less than three years, a very short period placing great demands on suppliers and calling for intensive simultaneous engineering. In less than two years, Thyssen Umformtechnik + Guss`s Ludwigsfelde plant built a new 8,000 square meter shop and set up a new, fully-automated press line - including tryout press - with stamping forces of up to 1,600 metric tons to produce the parts for the Vaneo. Overall investment totaled around 50 million marks, and the facility will create up to 100 new jobs.
DaimlerChrysler plans annual production of around 50,000 units for the Vaneo, with which it aims to attract new target groups to the Mercedes-Benz marque. Experts forecast strong growth in the compact van segment: by 2003, the European market is expected to expand 46 percent against 1999 levels, while in Germany growth of around 56 percent is anticipated.
For further information contact:
ThyssenKrupp AG
Trade Press
Bernd Overmaat
Telephon: +49 (0)211 824-36012
e-mail overmaat@tk.thyssenkrupp.com