Freudenberg Sealing Technologies developing new in-wheel motor seals | Rubber News

WEINHEIM, Germany—Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is continuing advanced development of two new in-wheel motor seal designs under outgoing CEO Mohsen Sohi, with the goal of taking the technology beyond the realm of passenger cars.

The new seals, known as the "cassette seal" and the "V-seal," have been developed to "expertly (bridge) the gap between the requirements for high sealing performance and low friction losses," the Weinheim-based technology company said. The technology will support OEMs and manufacturers of electric vehicles, Product Developer Lucas Breusa said.

Specifications of the innovative new seals can be adjusted to customer requirements, and even fully lifted off the rotary's stationary component, known as the stator, according to Breusa. This process, he added, works in both eliminating friction and "significantly increasing the lifetime of the seal."

The new designs "can be scaled to an installation space diameter of up to 530 (millimeters)" and can be used in cars, truck, buses and other applications throughout the automotive industry, Breusa said.

The newly developed Freudenberg cassette seal features stainless steel material and special rubber compounds, the company said. The new technology "offers a double sealing lip and mating contact surface installed in a closed system," which helps the seal achieve a long service life as well as high functional reliability.

"It is capable of achieving up to 500,000 (kilometers) and protection class IP67," the company said of the new cassette seal. "This makes it a maintenance-free, self-lubricating solution throughout its entire service life."

Freudenberg's new V-seal technology works in an open system, according to the company, which called the product a "plug-and-play solution for flexible applications."

In creating the new V-seal, Freudenberg was able to cut manufacturing costs while also equipping the design with "particularly wear-resistant elastomers with excellent sliding properties."

The company is urging manufacturers to partner with them for motor development, according to Breusa.

"Our recommendation to IWM manufacturers is to involve us as their development partner early in the process," he said. "This means that optimal results can be achieved very quickly and prevents additional modification loops."

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