American Axle & Manufacturing Highlights
Its Technology At the 2001 SAE World Congress
DETROIT, March 6 American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings,
Inc. (AAM), which is traded as AXL on the NYSE, will be showcasing its latest
systems and modules technology at the 2001 Society of Automotive Engineers
(SAE) World Congress in Detroit, March 5-8, 2001.
AAM recognizes some hard and fast truths regarding the future of the
automotive tier-one supplier world. In the years to come, the OEM automotive
manufacturers will continue to streamline their operations and outsource more
responsibilities to their key suppliers.
"As the premier supplier of automotive driveline components, systems and
modules, we are positioned to provide our customers with products and services
to meet their current and future needs," says AAM President & Chief Operating
Officer, Joel Robinson. "Our engineers are constantly exploring new and
innovative technologies which will provide our customers with the world-class
systems and modules that will enhance their future products and help them to
streamline their assembly operations."
AAM currently produces all-wheel-drive systems that improve on-road and
off-road performance for numerous vehicles. These systems feature independent
front and rear axles; electronic TracRite(TM) traction-enhancing differentials
and power take-off units for crossover vehicles. The company's current
portfolio of integrated driveline and chassis systems is designed for light
trucks; sport utility vehicles (SUVs); and passenger-car-derived SUVs,
commonly referred to as crossover vehicles.
"In the past 12 months we have proactively designed, developed,
engineered, manufactured, assembled and installed three different driveline
and chassis module systems to demonstrate our capabilities," says Daniel V.
Sagady, P.E., vice president, Engineering & Product Development. "We have
tested them under real-world conditions, demonstrating our ability to meet the
future needs of our customers."
AAM's driveline modules incorporate independent drive axles, propshafts
and halfshafts; its chassis suspension module includes the sub-frame,
suspension, brake and wheel-end systems; and the integrated driveline chassis
module includes driveline systems, chassis systems and the corner module.
Some of the components, systems and modules displayed at the SAE World
Congress include the Integrated Oil Pan (IOP) front-axle module which will
appear in the all-new 2002 General Motors mid-sized Trailblazer, Envoy and
Bravada sport utility vehicles; the SmartBar(TM) which will appear in a 2003
model-year all-terrain vehicle produced by a major Detroit-based OEM; and an
AAM high-performance propshaft developed for use by vehicles competing in the
NASCAR(R) Craftsman(R) Truck Series and the Winston Cup Series.
The IOP front axle module was designed and developed by AAM engineers to
meet customer needs for improved performance, durability, weight reduction,
packaging, operating temperature control, and vehicle system electrical
interface compatibility and control.
"The selection by General Motors of AAM's IOP front-axle module for its
new SUV program demonstrates GM's continued confidence in our people,
technology, products, processes, systems, and performance," says Robinson.
The patent-pending SmartBar(TM) is an electronically actuated stabilizer
module designed and developed at AAM's Technical Center in Rochester Hills,
Michigan, specifically to provide maximum off-road traction and handling
without sacrificing on-road performance. The SmartBar(TM) was designed to
provide both maximum on-road and off-road capabilities in a simple, elegant
package.
"We design all of our systems and modules for ease of manufacturability
and assembly," says Sagady. "Our Technical and Prototype Development Centers
allow us to design from 'art-to-part,' utilizing lessons learned from previous
experiences. A major component of our design requirement for the SmartBar(TM)
was to develop a stabilizer bar that would be interchangeable with the current
stabilizer bar's geometry, using existing frame and lower control arm
interfaces, and which could interface into the vehicle's electronic control
system."
AAM's high-performance propshaft showcases the company's strengths as the
premier supplier of driveline and chassis components, systems and modules.
The project allows AAM engineers to gain firsthand knowledge of how their
products will perform under the harsh conditions found in NASCAR(R) racing.
AAM can then integrate that information into the design of future products for
its customers.
According to Tex Racing President Tex Powell, who is working with AAM on
the development of the propshaft for future sale to the NASCAR racing
community, this new AAM high-performance propshaft is like no other propshaft
on the market.
"Unlike other shafts, the advanced AAM propshafts require no balance
weights. The shafts are high-speed-balanced, using a special process, that
does not require adding various weights on the tube of the shaft. This
eliminates the need for welded or glued weights on the shaft that could fall
off during operation of the vehicle and cause vibration problems or other
damage."
AAM is a world leader in the manufacture, engineering, validation and
design of driveline systems, chassis systems and forged products for trucks,
buses, sport utility vehicles and passenger cars. In addition to its 14
locations in the United States (in Michigan, New York and Ohio), AAM also has
offices and facilities in Brazil, England, Germany, Japan, Mexico and
Scotland.
Certain statements contained in this press release which are not
historical facts contain forward-looking information with respect to the
Company's plans, projections or future performance, the occurrence of which
involves risk and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results
or plans to differ materially from those expected by the company which include
risk factors described in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
For more information ...
Investor relations contact Media relations contact
Robert A. Krause Carrie L.P. Gray
Vice President & Treasurer Director, Marketing & Corporate Relations
313-974-3074 313-974-2598
krauser@aam.com grayc@aam.com
Or visit the AAM website at http://www.aam.com
