Apr 25 2007
The Carbon Company – was recently awarded for its carbon-ceramic brake discs as part of the landmark initiative “Germany – Land of Ideas”. Dr. Hariolf Kottmann, a member of the SGL Board of Management in charge of the brake discs, accepted the certificate from Deutsche Bank director Armin von Falkenhayn. The bank is an official partner of the initiative - a joint project of the German Federal Government and German commerce and industry, under the patronage of the German Federal President, Horst Köhler.
The carbon-ceramic brake discs from the SGL Brakes GmbH, a subsidiary of the SGL Group, are manufactured from the innovative composite, carbon-fiberreinforced silicon carbide (CSiC) and offer many benefits. In addition to having a long service life (the length of a car’s service life), half the weight of conventional steel brake discs and almost no abrasion at all (dust emission), improved driving dynamics and a shorter braking distance also represent innovative characteristics of a carbon-ceramic brake system.
The SGL Group began developing brake discs together with Porsche in 1997 and suitable brake systems were introduced in different models starting in 1999.
Since 2005, the SGL Group has also supplied brake discs to AUDI AG for use in models such as the A8 W12. Furthermore, SGL and Audi are cooperating in the development of carbon-ceramic brake systems for upper class vehicles. In 2007, the SGL Group is expected to fit approximately 8,000 vehicles from brands including Porsche, Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.
On October 5 this year, SGL Brakes GmbH will host an official ceremony along with representatives of the initiative and invited guests at the SGL Group’s largest production site worldwide in Meitingen, near Augsburg, as the “landmark of the day” in the “Land of Ideas”.