It has been a long time in coming, but Tier I supplier Continental AG and the Schaleffler Group, which executed an unfriendly takeover of Conti two years ago, have successfully developed and are near ready to begin manufacturing a new turbocharger for gasoline engines that offers cost benefits to engine builders.  "This collaboration is the result of Continental's successful search for a strong partner to complete the final development phase and put the turbocharger into series production," noted Dr. Peter Gutzmer, head of the Engine Systems Business Unit in the Powertrain Division.  Conti hopes to be manufacturing some 2 million of these turbochargers by 2014. 

The arrangement between Continental and Schaeffler makes Continental responsible for integrating the turbocharger into the vehicle manufacturers' engine system, and for application development, product engineering, purchasing, sales and quality.  Schaeffler will provide support in the final development phase and will assume full responsibility for industrialization.  Production is slated to begin in third quarter of 2011. 

The turbocharger's 38mm-diameter turbine turns at some 240,000 rpm, in the exhaust flow of the engine where it can reach 1,050°C.