Mercedes-Benz investing around $558 million in Berlin plant; global center of competence for CAMTRONIC
22 May 2015
Mercedes-Benz is investing a total of around €500 million (US$558 million) in its plant in Berlin—the Group’s oldest production facility in operation—which is being developed into a high-tech facility for component production. Some €150 million ($168 million) of that will be applied this year. In the future, Berlin will be a global center of competence for the production of the CAMTRONIC engine management system, giving it a unique position within the production network. The V6-cylinder diesel engine is produced in Berlin.
With the agreement of this transformation plan, the plant is continuing to push forward its development into a high-tech component manufacturing facility, focusing on the expansion of capacity for advanced products. In addition to high-precision transmission parts, camshaft adjusters and fuel systems, these include the CAMTRONIC valve timing system that will be the subject of the majority of the agreed investment.
CAMTRONIC is an engine management system that helps to reduces an engine’s CO2 emissions. It optimizes fuel consumption in the engine’s frequently used lower partial load range by reducing losses relating to load change behavior.
Mercedes-Benz equips its 1.6-liter variant of the M270 four-cylinder gasoline engine with the intake valve lift adjustment, among others. The system operates mechanically, but is served by an electronically controlled actuator.
The intake camshaft is made up of several components: two hollowed-drilled sub-shafts of equal size are mounted on the carrier shaft. The first sub shaft controls the intake valves of cylinders 1 and 2, and the second those of cylinders 3 and 4. The cams themselves take the form of a double-cam with two curved surfaces. The surface operating the valves via roller-type rocker arms is only half as wide as on a conventional cam, therefore the space requirement is the same.
When the steeper half of the cam is active, the valve lift is increased and the valves remain open for longer. Switching to the flatter half of the cam shortens the valve lift and the valves close sooner.
Powertrain production. The powertrain production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars comprises several locations in Germany and other countries. In addition to the Berlin plant:
The Mercedes-Benz plant in Untertürkheim, Germany, produces the heart of the automobile: engines, transmissions, axles and related components. The plant is the center of competence in the global powertrain production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars.
The plant in Hamburg, Germany, develops and produces axles and axle components, steering columns and components for exhaust technology and lightweight structural components.
The MDC Power engine factory in Kölleda, Germany, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG and produces four-cylinder engines for Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG vehicles
Daimler’s Romanian subsidiary Star Transmission assembles transmissions and the produces components and parts.
Engine plants in Beijing, China, as part of a joint venture, and the Infiniti plant in Decherd, Tennessee as part of the strategic partnership between Daimler and the Renault/Nissan Alliance, are also part of the network.
Comments