BASF and Tier I Mahle have commercialized a plastic transmission support bracket made with BASF’s Ultramid A3WG10 polyamide (PA). In addition to supplying the specialized, highly-filled material, BASF supported Mahle with its Ultrasim simulation technology, which helps reduce trial and error during the development phase.

“As the automotive part is exposed to various dynamic and static loads while driving, it has to withstand the same load as if it were made of the conventional metal material. We were able to replace the whole structural part from metal to Ultramid, owing to its excellent mechanical properties,” said Sanghae Suh, Director, BU2 KR, Mahle. “The transmission support bracket is Mahle’s first structural application business launched globally, and the strong support from BASF helps us successfully penetrate the market.”

The plastic transmission support bracket's weight can be reduced by 50% to improve energy efficiency for a more sustainable drive. Additionally, manufacturing is simplified through the injection molding process. Further, Ultramid reduces the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) of the parts to provide a more comfortable ride thanks to its damping properties. 

“Partnering with Mahle on this project is a great showcase of our ability to co-create new applications with our customers with advanced material solutions and technical support. We not only provide a customized material solution to meet their specific needs but also support them in realizing their sustainability goals,” said Desmond Long, Vice President, Business Management Transportation, Performance Materials Asia Pacific.