Episode 5: “Car springs…What are the requirements for?”
Hello, everyone. The year 2006 has started. I hope this year will be great for you. This winter is very cold… I feel the cold. And we have a lot of snow, too. I hope you in snow country, will not be snowed up!
Now, today’s theme is “Car springs…What are the requirements for?”. So far I’ve talked about “springs in space” and “springs in mind”, and they are out of touch with our business, or “elasticity”. I’d like to talk about “springs” this time, associated with our business.
PIOLAX produces various “springs” used in automotive, medical, and consumer products, under the slogan of “Pioneer of elasticity”, which is the source of the company name PIOLAX. “Springs” do not mean only the spiral metallic springs that go boing boing! PIOLAX produces various parts and products using “elasticity” as “springs”. First off I talk about “car springs”, the most-produced items in PIOLAX.
Have you ever opened the engine room door or trunk room door of the cars to find where “springs” are used in them? I suppose that perhaps actually most people have not seen springs (or cannot notice them even if look at them) except those who are involved in design, manufacturing, or car repairs. The number of used springs depends on the type of car, but some cars use more than 1000 springs. You may think that if there are so many springs in cars, they are almost certainly noticed. Before answering the questions of where and how springs are used, I’d like to talk about the requirements for springs used in cars.
And, so far cars have been run on fossil fuels, or burning (exploding) gasoline or light oil. In order for cars to run with the least energy consumption, the weight of vehicle body must be lightened. So, the next requirement is “being not heavy”.
We must develop and produce “rugged, lightweight and long-lasting” springs (I’d like to have them as my wife, if possible). I hope you understand this. Then, how can we produce such “springs” meeting the requirements? The answer is “not to use metal”.
We have come to produce “resin springs” like a plastic. However, because of the problem of “strength”, etc., a great many metal springs are now used in cars. In addition to metal and resin springs, there are air spring and oil springs in terms of type of springs.
Well, that’s all for today. Remember that car “springs” are made of metal, resin, air, or oil (but won’t be on the test).
I will take the question of where springs are actually used in cars next time. Don’t miss the next column. See you.Written by Banekko (a child of spring)