Continental is not only a tire manufacturer. The company is also heavily involved in making all sorts of parts and developing great tech. The brand recently showed us the transparent Swarovski crystal infotainment display, for example. But here's how Continental is making sure that the products it makes leave the factory in perfect condition.
Your car might have more than just Continental tires on it. The German company is deeply involved in advancing the automotive industry. It is developing all sorts of technologies. From braking systems to fleet services and radars, this company really plans on becoming an indispensable partner to the world's most well-known car brands.
One of its divisions, Continental Automotive, is also working on autonomous mobility and making drivers' lives easier through the implementation of artificial intelligence. Think of it like it's Tesla developing FSD Supervised, but with a lot more care and responsibility.
However, developing the latest and greatest technologies can't be accomplished without the right machinery or tools. So, Continental is giving us a glimpse into how it makes sure that all the important parts leaving its factory are not going to cause any issues.
The company uses a CT scanner, which can cost over $300,000, to accurately see inside various parts. Skilled workers don't have to disassemble them and waste them figuring out what went wrong or isn't up to spec. The combination of X-rays allows employees to verify the components up to a precision of eight micrometers, which represents 0.008 millimeters. The parts they scan typically have a diameter of 230 mm and a maximum height of 400 mm. So, this is a delicate process.
Photo: Continental Automotive
If they discover an issue, then the right departments are informed as fast as possible, and the right measures are taken faster than before. That's how Continental makes sure that its programs aren't delayed. It's also a great way to inspire confidence in customers who may have a strict schedule. Moreover, it saves everyone a lot of money.
Such a machine is typically used in the medical field. Technologists use it to see inside the human body and can create detailed images of bones, muscles, organs, and even blood vessels.
Besides the CT scanner, the tire manufacturer's auto tech division is also making use of 16 GHz digital high-performance oscilloscopes. These help engineers quickly figure out if circuit designs are working correctly. It's important to measure the electrical phenomena and set the electronic signal to the correct bandwidth. Those may seem like trivial things, but they are incredibly important.
The last cool thing Continental Automotive makes use of is the laser reballing machine. This is used to change soldered balls on a grid array circuit with the help of hot air, vacuum pumps, and micro tweezers. It's a meticulous job, but it ensures that a chip can be safely reused. Sustainability is important, but the fact that the company won't have to spend more money on developing a certain product or part is also a priority.
The automotive world isn't only about cars, engines, motors, tires, brakes, turbos, and… You name it. In this day and age, it's also revolving around impressive technologies that make vehicles smarter, more connected, more efficient, and ready to become more than just commuting appliances. It's a new, fascinating era that may or may not be centered around enthusiasts.
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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