Production anniversary at Bosch

Bosch has produced its 100 millionth push link belt since 1985 in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The product is a key component of continuously variable CVT transmissions and consists of hundreds of individual, specially developed steel elements that are connected with high-alloy steel bands. In the transmission, it transfers the power to the drive axle and always ensures the best possible transmission ratio depending on speed and requirements.

Last year, the Bosch pusher link belt was used in more than 200 current vehicle models. It is now also increasingly being used in leisure vehicles such as quads and side-by-side vehicles.

Originally designed for combustion engines, the technology has now been further developed for hybrid and electric vehicles. With the continuously variable automatic transmission for electric vehicles (CVT4EV), Bosch has introduced a compact multi-speed transmission concept specifically for electric cars. Vehicles with high weight or high speeds benefit from this in particular. As part of an electric drivetrain, it also reduces energy consumption, improves efficiency and performance and ensures a smooth driving experience.

Based on the knowledge acquired over the years with the development and production of the thrust link strip, the Tilburg site has now expanded its product portfolio to include new high-tech thin metal components: e-stacks for electric motors and air foil bearings went into series production at the end of 2023, and the plant is now starting to develop bipolar plates.

The e-stack, a stack of very thin sheets, is the heart of a high-performance electric motor. Among other things, the air foil bearing is part of an electric air compressor that reaches speeds of more than 100,000 revolutions and is used in fuel cell systems. Bipolar plates can be stacked or welded together and used in fuel cells and electrolysers. (aum)