- ABS production line integrated into the Várzea Paulista plant
- ABS will be mandatory in Brazil from 2014: Continental is producing and developing ABS systems to suit the South-American market at its Brazilian plant
Continental, the international automotive supplier, has begun production of anti-lock brake systems (ABS) at its Brazilian site in Várzea Paulista (near São Paulo). “The use of ABS systems is on the increase in the fast-growing Brazilian market and it is now being given legal force: from 2014 ABS will be mandatory for all new vehicles. By producing these systems in-country, we are matching our portfolio to the requirements of our local customers”, said Frank Jourdan, Executive Vice President of the Electronic Brake Systems Business Unit in Continental’s Chassis & Safety Division, at yesterday’s official opening ceremony. The existing ABS production line has been taken over and integrated into the Várzea Paulista plant where, until now, only hydraulic brake systems had been produced. This makes Várzea Paulista Continental’s first electronic brake system production site in South America. Production started up back in November 2012. About €10 million has been invested in this international project and in the integration work at the plant. The ABS-related wheel speed sensors are produced in the sister plant in Salto (Brazil).
Development and production for the South American market
Anti-lock brake systems prevent the wheels locking up if the brakes are applied in an emergency; as a result, the vehicle remains both stable and steerable. The ABS safety system is standard equipment for passenger cars today and is a legal requirement in many countries. The Várzea Paulista site is now home to the application engineering and the local production of the MK 70 and MK 78 – electronic brake systems with ABS functionality for compact and sub-compact vehicles, suited to the South American market. “ABS production will be based on a two-shift system in the first half of 2013; three-shifts will then be worked in the second half of the year. We have taken on 80 new employees in order to achieve this”, said Michael Diehl, Head of the Electronic Brake Systems Business Unit in Brazil. The maximum capacity of the new ABS production line is 1.2 million units a year. The Várzea Paulista site was opened 1969; the Chassis & Safety Division’s centre for the development and production of hydraulic brake systems in Brazil is also based here.
