Mann+Hummel - Environmental Protection

Environmental Protection

The automotive industry is working increasingly hard to combine mobility with environmental protection and economy. Automotive component suppliers play an important role, as around 70% of a vehicle is produced in their (external) plants (as opposed the main car assembly plant).

For M+H, environmental protection is a strategic business objective, firmly established in corporate guidelines and ranking equally with economic objectives such as growth, profitability and market presence. A common environmental standard has been applied throughout the Group since the beginning of 2006. Environmental Officers and environmental management systems support and document implementation of the Group-wide standard. In 1998, Sonneberg (in Thuringia, Germany) was the first site to introduce an environmental management system. After Shanghai in 2007, Tešanj in Bosnia became their 21st site to achieve certification to ISO 14001. Further plants in China, India and Eastern Europe will follow.

In addition to environmentally friendly production, attention has been increasingly focussed on the environmental compatibility of the products themselves. The environmental impact can be substantially reduced by using so-called Recompounded Plastic Materials. M+H has, for example, developed and started serial production of a cylinder head cover made from such material – in this case, consisting of waste and over-production polyamide fibres from the carpet manufacturing industry.

The predominant material in the engine compartment has until now been metal, but this is being replaced more by specialised plastics. The vehicle is therefore lighter in weight. Lighter weight means lower fuel consumption and thus also reduced emissions levels. As well as its advantages with regard to weight, plastic also offers new opportunities for component design and thus a higher degree of functional integration is possible. This generally reduces material consumption. One example is the prototype of a plastic oil pan for passenger cars which was exhibited at 62nd International Motorshow (IAA) Cars 2007. Weight savings of around 30% are achieved, compared with hybrid subassemblies made of aluminium and plastic, and this figure rises to approximately 60% when compared with pure aluminium parts. Environmental statements, reports and certificates can be viewed on the Corporate website