Valeo's High Performance G5 Clutch Facings Meet New European Environmental Regulations

PARIS, France, February 3 -- Valeo's new range of G5 clutch facings for car and commercial vehicle applications, now being supplied to OEMs worldwide, represent a major success for the company's multi-million euro research and development program which has been focused on meeting the stringent demands of new European environmental regulations. Valeo is a world leader in clutch friction material technology and this important break-through consolidates its position as the supplier of choice for all vehicle clutch facing requirements.

The R&D program for G5 clutch facings has embraced the company's environmental policy by achieving significant product and production process improvements. This in turn has led to full compliance with European regulations.

All clutch facings in the G5 range are manufactured using new water-based, solvent free, production processes. These processes represent a significant innovation that have enabled Valeo to totally eliminate chlorinated solvents and so achieve compliance with European regulations well in advance of their introduction.

Commenting on this environmental achievement, Thierry Morin, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, said, "The Valeo Environmental Management System, set up more than ten years ago, adopts a single standard that is even stricter than the current ISO 14001 regulations. The new G5 range of clutch facings is a good example of how Valeo's commitment to environmental protection is now embodied in the extensive product and process design expertise used to eliminate dangerous materials from production processes and, at the same time, create innovative value-added products which are inherently more environment-friendly."

The range adopts a new proprietary design of entirely lead-free clutch facings that possess high friction levels for outstanding performance and durability. End-of-life recycling of the clutch facings is made possible because of their lead-free construction.

The new production processes employ state-of-the-art technology to manufacture a wide variety of G5 clutch designs to meet individual customer specifications. These customers include BMW, Nissan, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Renault, Toyota and Volkswagen Group.

In performance terms, occupants of vehicles adopting the G5 clutch will experience enhanced levels of driving comfort when changing gear due to the suppression of engine vibrations and the extremely smooth, judder-free, clutch action.

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 125 plants, 55 R&D centers, nine distribution centers and employs 67,000 people in 25 countries worldwide (October 2003).

Media contact: Malene Pickles, +33 1 40 55 2074, Malene.pickles@valeo.com