Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is 2022 Automotive News PACE Award finalist

Date: Thursday 20 October 2022

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Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has in recent years further deepened its segment organization and extended it to the entire company. A good example is the Corteco brand in the independent automotive spare parts market.

Recently, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has been named a 2022 Automotive News PACE award finalist for its DIAvent Highflow pressure equalization element.

The Automotive News PACE Awards, now in their 28th year, are given to suppliers in recognition of a technological innovation in product or process that has reached the commercial market. 2022 proved a highly competitive year for the award competition, with a record number of high-calibre technology projects under consideration.

The Automotive News PACE Awards competition highlights superior innovation, technological advancement, and business performance among automotive suppliers. Judged by an independent panel of technologists, the competition is recognized around the world as the industry benchmark for innovation.

Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has developed an entire DIAvent family of smart pressure compensation elements which combines pressure equalization and emergency degassing into a single component, making electric vehicles more reliable and economical. The product solutions range from combined pressure equalization and emergency degassing during a worst-case scenario – the thermal runaway of a cell – to the two-way ventilation of oily environments using a DIAvent compensation element uniquely developed for such wet applications. Developed by Freudenberg engineers to manage the air pressure changes and emergency degassing within the battery housing of a BEV during operation, DIAvent Highflow has no industry equal. It requires 50 to 70 percent less space than competitive pressure regulation and degassing solutions for the same airflow. DIAvent Highflow also offers customers weight saving through its innovative use of a UL94-V0-compliant plastic housing. It is less costly than two separate components, requires less installation effort, addresses supply chain complexity, and supports the industry’s use of higher density batteries to address range, power, and safety requirements in BEVs. DIAvent Highflow will begin serial production by the end of the year with several major automotive manufacturers already committed to its purchase and use.

A Unique Industry Solution
"Our customers asked us for a solution to enhance the safety of BEVs in the event of a battery fire,” said Matthew Chapman, President, Automotive Sales, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies. ”DIAvent Highflow provides them with a unique industry solution. Our customers have been impressed by this game-changing technology, and we anticipate interest will continue to grow because of our PACE finalist honors.”

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