Valeo launches breakthrough cooling concept

Frankfurt, Germany, September 19 -- With electronics playing an ever increasing role in vehicle thermal systems, Valeo continues to strengthen its global leadership position in this market by offering highly-efficient and simplified cooling solutions for tomorrow's car engines. Valeo's UltimateCooling(tm) concept, unveiled today at the IAA, is an environmentally-friendly and comprehensive thermal solution that is applicable to all types of future car powertrains. It provides an optimal, highly-efficient, thermal environment with valuable space and cost savings for car makers, improved passive pedestrian safety and low maintenance costs for consumers.

UltimateCooling goes beyond conventional cooling. Current vehicle cooling designs are based on numerous independent cooling systems that each serve a separate thermal function, e.g. engine cooling, air-conditioning and oil cooling. Each requires a separate radiator and specific controls as well as many individual connecting hoses. Such systems are costly, space-consuming and complex to integrate into the overall vehicle design. UltimateCooling is believed to be the first comprehensive design approach that offers both a full control strategy and full design flexibility.

"The UltimateCooling concept presented is an excellent example of our successful Domain approach which facilitates significant innovations that are based on true market needs. Engine cooling is no longer a stand-alone function but is one element of the full thermal management system," said Thierry Morin, Valeo Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. "UltimateCooling is a flexible concept that fully meets the needs of vehicle manufacturers for full systems that are flexible, cost-effective and above all add value to vehicles. Initial customer feedback to this revolutionary thermal concept has been very good. In ten year's time such systems may well be specified as standard equipment by car makers."

Using water as the single coolant, UltimateCooling provides car makers with ease of assembly and offers consumers convenience when refilling the cooling system. The elimination of 70 per cent of the costly high-pressure fluid hoses found in today's vehicle engine bays offers car makers further potential cost savings.

Drivers of cars employing the UltimateCooling concept will also benefit from increased reliability and reduced noise due to the elimination of all high-pressure hoses, such as air conditioning, charge air, and oil. The risk of environmental damage resulting from fluid hose leakage is greatly reduced due to the complete elimination of most of these hoses. Reduced repair costs for low speed front-end damage, which occurs more often in city driving, is a significant benefit since many of the high-value components such as air-conditioning condensers are fully protected in their new location.

By freeing-up significant space in a critical area of the vehicle, UltimateCooling also offers car makers the opportunity to further improve passive pedestrian safety. Additional crumple zones, for example, may be integrated into the newly created space behind the front grille and will contribute to satisfying future European legislation relating to improved protection of pedestrians and other road users.

The UltimateCooling approach is compatible with all engine fuel types as well as hybrids or fuel cells and will enable the optimal and efficient transfer of heat energy out of the engine, leading to better fuel economy and emissions reductions. UltimateCooling's unique single radiator design provides a flexible concept that can be easily adapted across a range of platforms - a distinct cost-advantage for car makers.

Based on the THEMIS(tm) principle, the company's revolutionary engine cooling system which regulates engine temperature according to driving conditions, UltimateCooling also provides full and accurate temperature control and heat transfer between all fluid flow in the powertrain's thermal management system:

- Engine coolant

- Engine oil

- Engine fuel

- Recirculated exhaust gas

- Automatic transmission oil

- Air conditioning refrigerant

- Intake air

Valeo is one of the world's leading automotive component, system and module suppliers with annual sales exceeding ten billion euro. Total quality, innovative value-added technology, global presence and competitive costs are the company's strategic objectives. A strong commitment to the transversal "Domains" approach supports these objectives by realising technological synergies across the Group's wide product portfolio. Satisfying customer and consumer expectations for increasingly complex and value-added vehicle systems is the foundation for the company's future success.

Valeo is exhibiting at the 60th IAA International Motor Show on stand D02 in hall 8.

Valeo is an independent industrial Group fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks. Valeo ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers. The Group has 130 plants, 54 R&D centres, 10 distribution centres and employs nearly 69,000 people in 25 countries worldwide.