Dana Holding Corporation (NYSE: DAN) announced today that it was honored with a 2015 Automotive News PACE Innovation Partnership Award for its collaboration with Audi in developing Dana’s Victor Reinz® partially coated multi-layer steel (MLS) valve body transmission separator plates. The technology enhances sealing capabilities, durability, and performance in multi-speed, continuously variable, and dual-clutch transmissions.
The Innovation Partnership Award is presented to OEMs and shared with suppliers for exemplifying superior collaboration during the commercialization process of an innovation. Dana collaborated with Audi in developing the valve body separator plate technology for advanced transmissions for the Audi A4 through A7, as well as the Q5.
The valve body separator plates serve as an extremely durable alternative to traditional single-layer valve body plates with bonded gaskets, which have limited sealing capability. Dana’s solution provides up to three times the sealing pressure while optimizing channel paths and enabling smaller valve bodies through the reduction of fasteners that can interfere with desired flow paths.
To achieve optimum performance, the valve body of the transmission separator plates has a labyrinth of sealing channels that carry transmission fluids under pressure to clutch packs, band servos, and hydraulic devices that enable the transmission to shift based on speed, load, and torque. Dana’s advanced plates are fluoroelastomer-coated for micro-sealing in critical areas, providing maximum control of fluids under high pressures.
“This prestigious award recognizes the significant impact collaboration has on technology development, and we are thrilled to share this honor with an important customer like Audi,” said Dwayne Matthews, president of the Dana Power Technologies Group. “At Dana, we strive to develop unique solutions for customers that address key market drivers, including fuel economy, durability, and performance. These plates are a perfect example of our engineering team accomplishing this mission.”
