Ford Goes With Electronic Throttles

PORTLAND, Ore.--Ford Motor Co. is putting the pedal to the metal as it goes with electronic throttle controls. ETC technology, also known as “drive-by-wire,” replaces the conventional cable-driven mechanical throttle control with a sensor that electronically controls the throttle operation, resulting in improved fuel efficiency and emissions, according to supplier Williams Controls Inc.

Williams has begun initial shipments of its ETC pedal assemblies from its Sarasota, Fla. factory to two Ford plants producing the Ford Super Duty Truck Series--including the F250, F350, F450, F550, F650, F750 and Excursion models with PowerStroke diesel engines.

The Williams/Ford Super Duty truck program, a long-term contract with an annual volume of more than 250,000 units, is the third major automotive based ETC application that Williams has put into production since the company decided last year to expand into what it calls a growing market for this technology.

The sensors used in the Ford Super Duty ETCs employ Williams’ Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) position sensor technology. The LTCC sensors were produced by the company’s Aptek subsidiary in Deerfield Beach, Fla., where the company has installed a high volume automated production line to meet the demand for sensors to support its “rapidly growing presence” in the automotive and light truck ETC market.

The sensors are also being produced for installation in the company’s ETC products for its traditional heavy and medium duty truck market operations in Portland, Ore.

Throughout 2001 and 2002 the company also expects to have additional automotive and light truck ETC pedal assembly contracts, which were awarded earlier this year, in production at Williams’ facilities.

By 2003, Williams expects that it will be manufacturing more than 1.5 million ETC pedals annually.

“We are obviously pleased that we have begun to ship to Ford, and we are in full production to meet the needs of the growing line of quality F-Series pickups,” said Thomas W. Itin, Williams’ chairman and CEO. “The Ford ETC program represents a significant effort by the company’s Florida operations, beginning with the design and testing at our Technology Center through the manufacturing at our QS-9000 quality certified Pedal Systems facility in Sarasota. Our engineers worked closely with Ford personnel to ensure the new pedal assembly met both the physical characteristics and output requirements of the vehicles, and this combined effort has resulted in a cost effective ETC that should contribute to improved performance, reliability and driver comfort for Ford truck owners.”

For more information, contact www.wmco.com.