Universal Joint Division is poised to push ahead
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CM explains the design's exclusive features which, says Tom Kruse, give the company an edge in competition
IN JUST three years since commencing operations, Spicer Universal Joint Division (UK) has won itself a substantial segment of the heavy-duty joint market and is poised to push ahead with further important expansion plans.
A rising star in the TurnerSpicer Drivetrain Group, the U-J operation was set up at Northampton in 1978. Since then it has achieved a formidable record of business growth in the UK, has already established a base in France to back its export drive to the EEC countries — and is now in the final stages of negotiations to acquire production facilities in Spain with a view to gaining increased localisation of component manufacture on this side of the Atlantic, broadening its product range and further expanding its sales to Europe.
At present, assembly is carried out with components bought in from the USA. The plan, both with the Northampton operation and the proposed additional facility in Continental Europe, is to achieve an 80 per cent "local" content, says the division's Danish-born general manager, Tom Kruse.
"This will further increase our efficiency and mobility as far as our component supply lines are concerned, apart from the useful spin-off of providing more work locally," he says.
Business for 1982 looks set fair to back Mr Kruse's ideas for expansion. The U-J division has already received a £2 million boost for next year by being appointed sole supplier of driveshafts for the new frontend-loader — the Cat — being launched by Caterpillar (Belgium) with a delivery schedule starting shortly and has also broken through against its competition in this country with a substantial order programme in the UK commercial vehicle industry, details of which will be released later this year.
The success of the division's marketing and sales function depends naturally on the quality — and availability — of the product. The Spicer joint's design incorporates a number of exclusive proprietary features which, claims Mr Kruse, gives the company the edge in the market place.
The Spicer joint has a patented bearing design which incorporates a one-way check valve that keeps oil in contact with the bearing surfaces when the shaft is stationary. The same valve meters the flow of lubricant to the bearing surfaces during high-speed, hightemperature running. A double lip seal of unique design ensures cleanliness in operation.
All spicer splines are coated by the patented Glideline process. Not only does this greatly decrease sliding friction compared to a steel on steel spline, but it also increases shaft-life substantially.
These are some of the design features which have been a factor in the division's sales success with a range that currently extends from the 1480-Series for vehicles of 12 tons gvw, to the giant 1950-Series used on the largest mobile off-highway earth-movers.
Particular success is being gained with the 1760-Series Line Hauler U-joint which was designed, says Turner-Spicer, especially for modern fuelefficient power-trains which have increased constant torque requirements, to fulfil major requirements of long life, light weight and serviceability. Maximum low gear torque capabilities are 13,018Nm (9,600lb ft) for the 1760 and 15,458Nm (11,400lb ft) for the 17601-l/D with a maximum operating speed of 4,500rpm. This performance enables it to be used in place of larger shafts, thus offering valuable weight saving.
Today Spicer shafts are fitted as standard equipment to Seddon, ERF, Leyland Roadtrain and psv and Scammell. They are a 100 per cent fitment on the Ford Transcontinental and the Renault Midliner, which is marketed in the US under the Mack label. The division can also boast that it supplies the only shaft which has Ministry approval for military vehicles-and this is being installed on the Vauxhall 4x4.
In the heavy-duty mobile off-highway area, Spicer UK has achieved a 70 per cent share of the market and its customers include Terras, Hyrnac, Durrupe and Caterpillar.
Tom Kruse and his U-joini team believe they still have a long way to go, but are confi. dent in the future for their pro. duct in the European scene, where they have already madE impressive inroads. Although theirs is a Northampton-based, UK-controlled operation withir the Turner-Spicer Group, the' are also cognisant of theil advantage in marketing a pro• duct which is also made in 12 other countries around thE world, through the "Dana connection".
"In whatever geographical area one of our UK units endE up, we've got a lead in local supply of parts and servicing," says Mr Kruse.
Which makes this Turner. Spicer product "Universal" in more ways than one!